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D. M. FERRY & COS DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



CHAI.I.ENGE DAVARF BLACK WAX, EXTRA 



EARLY.— When we placed this bean on the market last 

 year we were confident that it merited all the praise we gave 

 it and more too, and the result has fully justified our confi- 

 dence. We can assure our customers that they can make no 

 mistake in using this for their crop of extra early wax 

 beans, as it has proven itself after another most thorough 

 trial to be fully one week earlier than any other wax bean. 

 The plants are fully as vigorous and prolific as the Prolific 

 German Wax, have the same general appearance and are 

 about the same size; pods fully as large and of as good color, 

 but are not quite so much curved and are flatter, while the 

 dry bean is longer, more curved and flatter, though jet black. 

 Market gardeners and others to whom earliness is a matter 

 of first importance, cannot afford to be without this, which 

 is truly the '■'earliest of alV the wax beans. 



BLACK-EYED WAX.— Very early. Vines medium 

 size, erect, bearing the pods near the centre. Leaves large, 

 thin, quite dark green in color. Pods long, straight, propor- 

 tionately narrow, and rounder than those of the Golden 

 Wax, and of a lighter color, with a medium length light 



freen point. They cook quickly, both as snap and as shell 

 eans. Dry beans, medium size, long, cylindrical, white, with 

 black spot around the eye. As early atid with as handsome 

 pods as the Golden Wax, of very good quality and in some 

 localities esteemed highly as a first early variety. 



D. M. FERRY & CO'S DETROIT AVAX.— The hardi- 

 est of all the wax beans. Plants erect, bearing their pods near 

 the centre, .often throwing them above the foliage. Very 

 productive; leaves large, dark green; blossoms small, white; 

 pods straight, flat, but thick to edge; distinctly broader than 

 the Golden Wax. They do not turn to wax color so early, 

 but when well grown and fit for use they are of a beautiful 

 golden Wax color and of the finest texture. We think this 

 variety the least liable to rust of any and the fact that other 

 seedsmen offer it under other names as absolutely rust-proof, 

 is evidence that they have found it as nearly rust-proof as 

 any bean can be. The fact that when picked along with 

 Golden Wax and other varieties, it keeps bright and crisp 

 long after the others are wilted and unsalable, makes it one 

 of the best for shipping long distances. It is also one of the 

 very best green shelled beans, and excellent dry, being very 

 much like the White Marrow when baked. Dry beans the 

 shape of the White Marrow, white with large patch of 

 chocolate brown about the eye. 



D. M. FERRY & CO'S GOLDEN WAX.-This bean, 

 introduced by us in 1876, has 

 lon^ been the standard wax 

 variety for general use, and 

 while many varieties have been 

 introduced claiming to be 

 superior in some respects and 

 aiming to replace it, they have 

 all sooner or later been forced 

 to the rear as not possessing 

 as many good qualities in as 

 high degree. Vines medium 

 size, erect, moderately spread- 

 ing, hardy and productive, 

 with small, smooth leaves, and 

 small, white blossoms. Pods 

 long, nearly straight, broad, 

 flat, golden yellow, very fleshy 

 and wax-like, with short, 

 fleshy, green point, cooking 

 quickly as snaps, and shelling 

 well when green, and of the 

 highest quality in both con- 

 ditions. Beans medium size, 

 oval, white, more or less 

 covered with two shades of 

 purplish-red. Our stock of 

 this variety is unsurpassed. 



WARDTVELL'S KID- 

 NEY WAX.— The vines of 

 this variety are very large, 

 strong growing and vigorous, 

 yielding a large crop of long, 

 nearly straight, handsome, 

 very white and wax-like pods. 

 They are of good quality and 

 on this account, as well as 

 their beauty of form and color, 

 are easily sold, even when 

 most sorts are a drug. They ripen about with the Golden 

 Wax. The dry beans are large, kidney shaped, white, with 

 dark markings about the eye. Market gardeners find this a 

 profitable variety owing to the large size and handsome 

 color of the pods. 



NEW GOLDEN-EYED TV AX.— We have grown 

 this variety on our trial grounds for two years now 

 and find that with the exception, perhaps, of the Detroit 

 Wax, it is the nearest rust-proof of any of this class. Vines 

 large, with coarse leaflets, upright, bearing pods well off the 

 ground, vigorous, hardy, quite prolific; flowers white, medium 

 size; pods long, straight, flat, moderately fleshy, rather 

 coarse and are not entirely stringless nor of the best flavor; 

 color waxy golden yellow. Dry beans medium size, long, 



D. M. Ferry & Co' 

 Golden Wax. 



kidney shape, almost cylindrical; white, with a yellow spot 

 around the eye. In the East, where it originated, this variety 

 has grown quite rapidly in favor with gardeners, owing to 

 its hardiness and large handsome pods, which stand shipping 

 extremely well. We have grown our own stock from the 

 best seed procurable. 



PROLIFIC GERMAN TVAX, BLACK SEEDED.— 

 We are so thoroughly satisfied with this improved strain of 

 Black Wax that we have discarded the old strain altogether, 

 this being more vigorous growing, far more productive, with 

 a longer, whiter, more fleshy pod, and unsurpassed in flavor. 

 Vines medium size, very vigorous and hardy, withstanding 

 rust exceedingly well. Flowers, reddish-white or purple. 

 Pods medium length, borne well up among the foliage, 

 curved, cylindrical, thick, fleshy, and of a clear, waxy-white 

 color, with long, slightly curved point; remain a long time 

 in condition for use as snaps. Beans small, oblong, jet 

 black. No one can afford to plant the old strain, as this is 

 much better in every respect. It is the same as the Cylinder 

 Black Wax of other seedsmen. 



SCARLET FLAGEOLET WAX.— The Flageolet Wax, 

 as grown in Europe, consists of two stocks, one with beans 

 of a scarlet color, and the other with beans of similar form 

 but deep violet or purple shade. 

 We have separated and fixed the 

 hghter colored bean by careful 

 selection for many years, and 

 have given it the above name. 

 Vines large, branching, but erect; 

 productive. Leaves large, very 

 light colored; blossoms white; 

 pods very long, flat, often curved 

 and twisted, of a golden wax 

 color, but rough surface, point 

 projecting from back side of pod 

 and very long, the pod gradually 

 tapering into the point. Dry , 

 beans, large, flat, bright red 



VIOLET flageolet! 

 WAX. — Plant very large, withj 

 large, light green leaves. Pods 

 very long and large, being longer j. 

 than those of the Scarlet Flageo- !- 

 let Wax, also more twisted. 

 When well grown, one of the 

 most showy possible of wax 

 beans. The pods are a little 

 later in coming to use than the 

 Scarlet, but are distinctly larger. 

 This is also sold as Perfection 

 Wax, and by other names. 



SPECKLED TV AX.— We are 

 better pleased than ever -with this I 

 grand, new bean after another ; 

 year's experience and feel per- 

 fectly sure that our customers ' 

 need only to give it a trial to be ; 

 as well satisfled with it as we are. 

 Indeed, some of the most pleas- 

 ant letters we have had this year ' 

 have been in praise of the merits ' 

 of this variety. It follows Chal- 

 lenge Black Wax and Golden Wax 

 very closely and is the best sort ; 

 to follow them for a succession. 

 Vines large, much branched, 

 upright, extremely hardy, vigor- 

 ous and productive; leaves large! 

 and coarse, resembling Kidney 

 Wax. Pods long, cylindrical, crisp, 

 tender, stringless and of a clear, 

 yellowish, waxy- white color. As ' 

 the pods mature, they become 

 splashed -with crimson, making 

 them very attractive, and in this condition they may be used 

 for shell beans. Dry beans mediimi size to large, long, 

 straight, cylindrical ; color light brown, mottled and striped 

 with chocolate brown. For vigor of growth and hardiness, 

 this sort cannot be excelled; as a snap bean it is of extra 

 good quality, and as a shell bean it is as good as the best. We 

 know of no bean, except this, which can take the place 

 of the Dwarf Horticultural as a shell bean, and we earnestly 

 recommend all who have not been successful with that 

 sort to give it a trial. As a general crop bean to be 

 used either as snaps, green shelled or in the dry state, we can 

 confidently recommend it as superior to any other variety. 



GERMAN TV AX, TVHITE SEEDED.— Vines small, 

 erect, with large, light-colored leaves, and white blossoms. 

 Pods short, broad, flat, white, fleshy and wax-like, of medium 

 quality, but very handsome. Beans medium size, oval, white. 



CRYSTAL TVHITE TV AX.— Distinct but not strictly a 

 wax bean. Very desirable for snaps or for pickles. Vines 

 large, spreading, very productive, having many runners, pro- 

 ducing pods in pairs throughout their whole length; blossoms 

 small, yellowish- white; pods greenish-white, short, curved, 

 round or thicker than wide, with crease in the back, very 

 fleshy and brittle. Ripe beans small, oval, white. 



The following are green podded varieties, and are named 

 about in the order of ripening, although this varies in differ- 

 ent seasons. 



Scarlet Flageolet. 



