D. M. FERRY & CO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



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A Cluster of Optimus as Grown on Our Trial Grounds. 



FIRST EARLY SORTS. 



Early Conqueror.— This seems to be the earliest in 

 the North, and is very popular. Vines medium size, vig- 

 orous, productive, bearing- immense clusters of fruit, 

 which is medium in size, irregular, flattened and slightly 

 corrugated, scarlet crimson color, often dotted and 

 splashed with gold color. 



Hundred Day. — In the South this seems to be the 

 earliest sort, and is largely used for shipping North. 

 Vine small, with few and small leaves, bearing small 

 clusters of irregular shaped fruit of medium size, dis- 

 tinct bright scarlet-vermilion color, flat with broad, 

 shallow corrugations at the stem, but perfectly smooth 

 and of a regular, wavy outline at center. Quality very 

 good, and ripens well after picking. 



Canada Victor.— Very early. Vines large, spread- 

 ing, productive. Fruit of light scarlet color, round, 

 smooth, of medium size, solid, and ripening up well. A 

 very popular variety. 



RED VARIETIES FOR GENERAL CROP. 



D. M. Ferry & Co's Optimus.— A variety intro- 

 duced by us, and, we believe, the best table tomato in 

 existence. Vine medium sized, but vigorous, healthy 

 and productive, bearing its fruit in clusters of five. 

 Although not presented as a first early sort, many of our 

 customers report that they have obtained ripe fruit from 

 this as early as from any variety. Fruit medium sized, 

 oval, very smooth, exceedingly bright, rich, crimson- 

 scarlet color; very free from cracks, and rotting less than 

 any of the seventy varieties with which it has been 

 compared. The flesh is of a crimson-scarlet color quite 

 distinct from, and more beautiful than, that of any other 

 sort, and it is also the best in flavor and entirely free 

 from the hard spots found in other large sorts. During 



the past season a large canning factory has used this 

 variety exclusively, and as a result their goods have met 

 with ready sale at quite an advance over the current 

 price. As a result of this extensive trial, we now claim 

 that the Optimus is not only the best for home use and 

 for market, but it is the best canning tomato in culti- 

 vation. We think that anyone who plants this sort 

 either in a garden or for market will- be satisfied that it 

 is the most productive, the handsomest and best 

 tomato in existence, and will not care to plant any 

 other except for extremely early fruit. 



Livingston's Favorite. — Vine medium, with large, 

 dark green, healthy leaves, having numerous clusters of 

 from three to seven very large, smooth tomatoes, which 

 are a rich, dark red color, of oval outline, exceedingly 

 smooth; flesh very firm, but without green spots. This 

 is a favorite variety on account of its smooth, handsome 

 fruit. 



Trophy.— Well known as one of the best. Vines of 

 medium size, but producing compact clusters of fruit in 

 immense quantities; fruit large, smooth, of bright red 

 color, solid and of good flavor. We have expended a 

 great deal of labor on the improvement of this old sort, 

 and think that the seed we offer is as good as can be 

 grown. 



Paragon. — Vine very large, vigorous and productive, 

 and continuing so until killed by frost. Fruit large, 

 round, of a very dark, rich crimson-scarlet color, with 

 occasionally a purplish tinge. It ripens up evenly, and 

 the flesh is thick and fine flavored. 



Livingston's Perfection. — A new variety, similar 

 to the last, but an improvement upon it, it being a little 

 earlier, and invariably smooth and handsome. It is one 

 of the handsomest tomatoes grown, and all who have 

 tried it pronounce it of the highest quality. 



