TflTe G^t "No. 400" Tomato 



170 longer N an * eless ' 



Read tlje Story 



of tl?e 



Greatest 



ai?d best advertised 



Vegetable NoVelty 



of tlje Ge^tiiry. 



. 



« 





t)dr Premium of $250 ™ 

 We divided equally 



k betwee^ 5 Contestants 



Wfyo suggested tfye 

 successful panje. 



Wl?o tfye Judges 



and successful 



Contestants Were. 



OX our first page we make the sweeping claim that we have been Identi- 

 fied with either the originating or introduction of more new and valu- 

 able seeds and plants than any other house in the country, a statement 

 ^ that thousands interested In the- development of horticulture would 

 quickly corroborate, let we must admit that with, perhaps, the single excep- 

 tion of that wonderful novelty first Introduced and named by us, the BUSH 

 LIMA BEAN, we never offered anything that has. within soshortatime, created 

 the same great interest, or which possesses more real merit, than the phenome- 

 nal Tomato distributed by us last year under the No. 400. Undoubtedly our 

 offer of $250 for the best name stimulated an interest In the variety ; but over- 

 shadowing that feature was the fact, that we never for a moment lost sight of. 

 that' the variety itself was the grandest and most valuable Tomato the world 

 has ever known. Hundreds who took no interest in the name contest, but who 

 planted the variety on our statement of Its merits, have told us that In offering 

 it last year we had not sung its praises half as loudly as It deserved. To that 

 charge we plead guilty, and will endearorthis season to make amends for Our 

 scant tribute to No. 400 by detailing at greater length the manifold merits 

 of PONDEROSA. 



The PONDEROSA possesses every good'quallty to be found in a 

 tomato The vines are strong and vigorous and easily carry their enormous : 

 weight of fruit. Its massive or ponderous fruits are almost perfect In form, and 

 to free .from ridges or corrugations as to seem nearly as smooth as glass- and 

 when we come to size, weight and solidity, no other Tomato begins to approach 

 it. When we state that single Tomatoes weighing nearly FOUB POUNDS have 

 l*en grown, and that specimens weighing two and three pounds each are of 

 common occurrence, some idea may be formed of what this leviathan is like. 

 The skm is exceedingly, firm, whicn will cause it to be largely .grown for ship- 

 ping purposes. On the back cover of this catalogue we have tried to nortrav 

 ■he color or the skin of PONDEROSA. Excellent as the work is, it docs 

 ■ ."I dojusliee to i he rich ci-im-ou of tin- original. The distinctive hue or the skin 

 p-mc-iK-stiie Iruit in like intem.ity Iroin circumference to centre so tint „| , 

 ►I Iced (or the table its tare beauty never fails to elicit general admiration Its 



remarkable solidity is happily expressed in one of our testimonials, which says 

 "that it is nearly as firm as an apple." A marked peculiarity of this variety is that 

 it is almost seedless, and while this characteristic commends its use to delicate 

 persons, this same peculiarity makes us pay five times as much to have the seed 

 grown as that of any other sort. Large fruits or vegetables are usually obtained 

 at the expense of earliness, but here the PONDEROSA again steps In and 

 floors our preconceived ideas 00 this point by demonstrating that it is as early 

 as most of the older sorts whose only merit Is that they are early. One patron 

 writes that he had splendid tomatoes of the PONDEROSA in lOOdays 

 from sowing the seed. Its flavor Is delicious, wjiether used raw or cooked. A 

 canner who grew it last year says it Is going to be a grand sort lor him, because 

 the tomatoes are.so large and smooth that there is no waste in handling. 



Last season we exhibited this Tomato in front of our seed stores In Cort- 

 landt Street, New York.and It elicited the admiration of thousands. A frequent 

 comment passed upon it there was: " Why, one ia enough for a meal." And so 

 it was. 



We feel that we have told the leading merits of this glorious Tomato, but 

 If the unsolicited testimonials on the other side of this sheet are read, still 

 further praise of PONDEROSA "ill be found. 



BEWARE OF TOMATO SEED sold this 



year, either as "PondefOSa," the 



" 4O0 " °r <"""> as " Henderson's 



400." Genuine seed can be obtained only 

 in packets that are sealed with our red Trade- 

 Mark Label. Reject any seed that docs not 

 bear our label, form of which is here shown. 



Price. 20 eta. per packet, 6 packets for 

 $1.0.0, 12 packets for $1.75, 25 packets foi 

 $3.00. 



Free by mail at prices named. 



NOW THEN FOR 1892 WE OFFER SBOO.gg 



in cash premiums for the Heaviest and Best Formed Single Tomatoes grown from 

 seed of the PONDEROSA purchased in 1892, either from us in our packets, 

 sealed with our Red Trade-Mark Label, or bought elsewhere, provided, 

 always, that the packets bear the name "PONDEROSA," and are sealed with 

 our Red Trade-Mark Label. Those intending to compete for these premiums 

 must so state at the time of ordering the seed, so that we can record it. If 

 this is not done their specimens cannot be considered in the competition. In 



accordance with 



conditions, and others stated below, we offer 



$500.00 to be distributed as follows : 



75.00 

 60.00 

 35.00 

 30.00 

 25.00 

 20.00 

 10 00 

 5.00 



Total $500.00 



All specimens for competition must be delivered at our stores, 35 and 37 

 Cortlandt Street, New York, on or before Oct. 15th, 1892 Specimens from a 

 distance should be carefully packed and sent by express, charges paid. The 

 names of the winners and the weiuhts of the specimens will be announced ia 

 our Catalogue for 1893. 



In the above distribution It will be seen that every competitor has ten 

 chances to secure a premium. We are determined that this contest shall be the 

 largest of its kind ever attempted, and we shall aid in every way to make it so. 



