D. M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH. 



57 



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 five 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 remaining 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 been 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 ti'imming the fruits are kept clear from the ground and with free access of sunlight they ripen 

 much earlier; the vitality, otherwise exhausted in superfluous 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. 



p |- Our strain of this first early sort is earlier 



l-i&rn&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 h<ime 



garlen. The vines are small but vigorous and produc- 

 tive. 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. 40c; 2 Oz. 7Sc; 'A Lb. $1.10; Lb. $3.75 



» F 1 This new extra early scarlet fruited 



Avon Ciarly variety 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 

 flattened, 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 consid- 

 er this a valuable addition to the list of early tomatoes 

 for the market or home garden. (For further descrip- 

 tion see page 8) Pkt. 10c; Oz. 50c; 2 Oz. 85c; 

 lALb. $1.40; Lb. $5.00 



I V> R ^° extra early scarlet fruited variety of 



JOtin D&er superior merit. The vines are very hardy 



and exceptionally productive. The fruits are the largest 



of the e.xtra early sorts and are also most attractive in 



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

 cellent quality. It is one of the veiy earliest to ripen 



its first fruits and it continues to furnish marketable 



fruits much longer than other very eai-ly varieties. It is 



an invaluable sort for market gardeners, shippers and 



canners. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 40c; 2 Oz. 75c; 'A Lb. $1.10; 



Lb. $4.00 



Avon Early 



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



DOnny oest than any other early scarlet frtiited sort, and is of superior solidity and interioi- 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 market and 



home garden. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 40c; 2 Oz. 7Sc; 'A Lb. $1.10; Lb. $3.75 



/-ii 11 » Fit I *-*''® °^ ^^^ very best early tomatoes yet introduced. The vines are vigorous and very pro- 



V.>nalK S Hiftrly 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 eaily and the pickings continue thmutrh 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; Vi Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 



f^ ' C * 1 ■^ distinct second early variety. The vines are about three ffet tall, being intermediate in height 



v^OOper S opecial between the dwarf and the tall growing sorts. The vines are sturdy and vigorous growing and produce 

 good sized clusters of fruits of attractive shape and color. The fruits are of medium sizp, globe shaped, light purplish pink 

 color, solid and meaty and of excellent flavor. Becau^se of its compact habit of plant, desirable shape of fruits and excellent 

 shipping qualities, this variety has proven a valuable one for the southern shipper ami market grower. For the home garden 

 it should prove equally valuable because of its superior yielding qualities over the strictly dwarf varieties and its compactness 

 compared with the tall growing sorts. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 8Sc; 2 Oz. $1.35; J4 Lb $2.25; Lb. $8.50 



f> ir Q, , -mji 1 , Although this variety was developed primarily to meet the demands of tomato growers who ship 

 VsUll otSlte IVlcirKet 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, round or globe shapt-d, show but little depression about 

 stem and are smooth and tree 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. Pkt. 

 10c; Oz. 75c; 2 Oz.$1.25; % Lb. $2.00; Lb. $7.00 



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