M 



FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH 



63 



TOMATO 



Tomatoes do best on light, warm, not over-rich soil and success depends largely upon securing a rapid, vigorous and 

 unchecked growth during the early part of the season. Sow in hotbed or in shallow boxes in the house from six to eight 

 weeks before they can be set out of doors, which is when danger from frost is past; when the plants have four leaves trans- 

 plant into shallow boxes or cold-frames, setting them four or live inches apart; give plenty of air and endeavor to secure a 

 vigorous but steady and healthy growth, so that at the time of setting in the open ground they will be strong and stocky. 

 Even a slight check while the plants are small will materially diminish their productiveness. 



Set out of doors as soon as danger from frost is over, but before doing so harden off the plants by gradually exposing 

 them to the night air and by the withdrawal of water until the wood becomes hard and the leaves thick and of a dark green 

 color. Transplant carefully and cultivate well as long as the vines will permit. If to be grown without training, the plants 

 are usually set from three to four feet apart each way according to the vigor of growth of the variety. 



To insure best results in respect to early ripening as well as the amount and perfection of fruit, it is advisable to 

 train up and trim the vines, especially if the patch is rather small. When the plants have been properly started and are six to 

 ten inches high they will begin to throw out branches. Select the largest and most vigorous of these and pinch off all others 

 except this one and the main stem. Care must be exercised not to pinch off the fruiting branches which, as they appear, 

 can be distinguished by the buds that are formed very early. In a short time these two I'emaining branches will become 

 equally vigorous and as ordinary varieties will grow four to six feet high during the season, they should be securely tied at 

 intervals of about ten inches to a long stake, preferably two inches square, which has bpen securely set in near the root of 

 the vine. 



Fruit will set to almost any height desired if all side branches are kept trimmed off at intervals of a week. By such a 

 method of training and trimming the fruits are kept clear from the ground and with fi-ee access of sunlight they ripen 

 much earlier; the vitality, otherwise exhausted in super- 

 fluous branches and leaves, is utilized in forming fruits 

 of largest size, greatest perfection of shape and best 

 quality. For further cultural directions see books listed 

 on inside of back cover. 



All our Tomato seeds are from seed stocks carefully 

 selected and saved by ourselves. We challenge comparison 

 of our stocks with any offered. 



I". |. Our strain of this first early sort is earlier 



Ili8irlia.na, and decidedly superior to much that is sold 



as Sparks' Earliana, and the extreme earliness of its 



large, smooth fruits makes it a very profitable tomato 



for market gardeners, as well as desirable for the home 



garden. The vines are small but vigorous and productive. 



The fruits are bright deep scarlet, medium to large, nearly 



round and exceptionally smooth for so early a variety. 



The fruits are borne in clusters near the base of the 



plant and the bulk of the crop ripens very early. 



Pkt. 10c; Oz. 35c; 2 Oz. 60c; V^ Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 



A|-i I This new extra early scarlet fi-uited vari- 

 VOn Jiiarly ety which we are offering this year for 

 the first time is the result of several years of careful 

 selection at our Oakview Stock Seed Farm. The fruits 

 are large for so early a variety, round or slightly flatten- 

 ed, deep scarlet red color, smooth, free from cracks and 

 of fine quality. It produces ripe fruit as early as 

 Earliana and continues to yield marketable fruit for a 

 longer period than the other first early varieties. The 

 vines are vigorous and very productive. We consider 

 this a valuable addition to the list of early tomatoes for 

 the market or home garden. (See colored plate, page 7, 

 and further description, page 6.) Pkt. 25c; Oz. $1.25; 

 2 Oz. $2.15; VA: Lb. $4.00; Lb. $15.00 



I I u An extra early scarlet fruited variety of 



Jonn DdiGV superior merit. The vines are very hardy 



and exceptionally productive. The fruits are the largest 



of the extra early sorts and are also most attractive in c«kly utikun 



color. They are nearly round, smooth, firm and of excel- 

 lent quality. It is one of the very earliest to ripen its first fruits and it continues to furnish marketable fruits much longer 

 than other very early varieties. It is an invaluable sort for market gardeners, shippers and canners. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 40c; 

 2 Oz. 75c; Va Lb. $1.10; Lb. $4.00 



U D I. '^^^ fruits of this desirable early sort are most attractive in shape and color. The crop ripens more uniformly 



oOnny OeSt than any other early scarlet fruited sort, and is of superior solidity and interior color. The vines are vigorous 



and produce a good crop of exceptionally round and deep fruits, bright deep scarlet in color and of very good quality. One of 



the best for gardeners whose trade demands fruits of beautiful shape and color. A very good variety for the early niarket and 



home garden. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 35c; 2 Oz. 60c; Va Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 



CU. 11 * 17 1 I 1 ^'^^ *^^ ^^^^ very best early tomatoes yet introduced. The vines are vigorous and very pro- 



v^na.lK S darly jewel ductlve. The fruits are bright deep scarlet-red, nearly round or somewhat flattened, smooth, of 



large size and most excellent quality. They ripen very early and the pickings continue through a long season. One of the 



very best second early scarlet fruited sorts and on account of its large size, excellent quality and productiveness one of the 



most satisfactory sorts for the home garden. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 35c; 2 Oz. 60c; V4 Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 



|->i ir Q. . »* I . Although this variety was developed primarily to meet the demands of tomato growers who ship 

 VxUlr i^LSlte iYia.rKet to distant markets, its many excellent qualities malce it also a very desirable sort for the home 

 gardener or the grower for local markets. Fruits medium to large, rotmd or globe shaped, show but little depression about 

 stem and are smooth and free from cracks. Color deep purplish pink ripening well about the stem. The skin is firm and the 

 flesh solid. Unsurpassed by any as a shipping variety and one of the most desirable home or market garden sorts. {See 

 colored plate, page 7, and further description, page 6.) Pkt. 25c; in 1 Oz. Sealed Packets $2.00 per Oz. 



pv i 'l This splendid variety, introduced by us in 1909, is the largest and best of the early purplish pink tomatoes. 



L'etrOlt The vines are vigorous and very productive. The fruits are very smooth, imiform in size, nearly globe- 

 shaped, firm, and of excellent quality. Early Detroit is one of the most valuable shipping tomatoes yet produced. It is also 

 desirable for the home garden and near markets. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 60c; 2 Oz. $1.00; Vi Lb. $1.75; Lb. $6.00 



Early 



* This well known sort is sold also as Essex Early Hybrid 



Acme first fruits very early, although not an extra early variety 



The vines are large, hardy and productive, ripening their 

 iety. The fruits are purplish pink, round, smooth and of 



medium size, free from cracks and stand shipment very well. Acme is also tised extensively for the home garden. The flesh 



is solid and of excellent flavor. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 30c; 2 Oz. 55c; V^ Lb. 90c; Lb. $3.25 



17 1 IVI* k* A second early, bright red variety of the best quality. The vines are vigorous and productive. The 



flariy iVllCnig'ari fruits are of medium size, Very smooth and of very attractive crimson-scarlet color. Pkt. 10c; 

 Oz. 35c; 2 Oz. 60c; 1/4 Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 



