56 



M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH 



tomato 



All our Tomato Seeds are from seed stocks carefully 

 selected and saved by ourselves. We challenge com- 

 parison of our stocks with any offered. 



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

 unchecked growth during the early part of the season. Sow in hotbeds 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 transplant 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 w^ater 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. 



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 one of 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. 



By such a method of training and trimming the fruits are kept clear from the ground and with free access of sunlight 

 they ripen much earlier: the vitaUty, otherwise exhausted in superfluous branches and leaves, is utihzed in forming 

 fruits of largest size, greatest perfection of shape and best quality. 



we were able to 



FADI I AM A Sometime ago 



LrniLBMl^A^ ctrn in considerably improved 



secure a 

 strain considerably improved and much 

 superior to that usually sold as Spark's Earliana, and we 

 now offer carefully selected seed of this most valuable 

 first early sort. Vine similar in growth, maturing bulk of 

 crop only a little later than Atlantic Prize, but the fruit is 

 larger, distinctly smoother, solid and of very good quality. 

 Early, smooth and of large size it is a particularly profitable 

 tomato for market gardeners. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 30c;, 2 Oz. 55c; 

 % Lb. $1.00; 



Earliana Tomato. 



NOI TP'^ PAPf I PCT This very early sort is more 

 11LFL<1L O i^^I\Lil^01 prolific than Atlantic Prize 



and continues in profitable production 



much longer. Vine the most hardy of any 



of the first early sorts, insuring a good 



yield even when growth conditions are not / 



'the most favorable. Fruit large, bright red / 



in color and of excellent quality. Pkt. 5c; 



Oz. 35c; 3 0z. 40c%tLb. 75c; Lb. $2.50 



Ai'lAn4lr DriTi^ ^^ have found this va- 

 t\\.\ai\UK, I 1 1£,^ ],jet,y unequaled by any 



in point of earliness. Fruits of medium 



size, good form and color. Still one of the 



leading first early sorts. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 35c; 



3 Oz. 40c; H Lb. 75c; Lb. $3.50 



EARLY MICHIGAN °-fn*r.S?,1 



sorts. Its first fruits are very early but the 

 vines continue to bear for a long time, 

 fruit medium sized to large, perfectly 

 smooth, solid, but without a hard core; 

 deep, rich red color and of excellent fiavor. 

 Pkt. 5c; Oz. 35c; 3 Oz. 40c; % Lb. 75c; 

 Lb. $3.50 



D. M. FERRY APTiliie IC A variety introduced by us and 

 «& CO'S l/r i ilYILlO we believe the best table tom- 

 ato, as far as quality is concerned. Vine medium sized. 

 vigorous, and productive. Fruit medium sized, oval, 

 very smooth and of bright crimson-scarlet color. 

 The Optimus is not only one of the best for home use and 

 for market, but one of the best canning tomatoes. 

 Pkt. 5c; Oz, 25c; 2 Oz. 4Qc; H Lb. 75c; Lb. $2,50 

 FAVORITE. Vine medium sized, having clusters of 

 three to seven large tomatoes which are of rich, dark red 

 color, oval outline and smooth, flesh very firm, v/ithout 

 green spots. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 25c; 2 Oz. 40c; ^ Lb. 75c; 

 Lb. $2.25 



ROYAL RED, Vines stronger and more vigor- 

 ous than the Favorite. The fruit is larger, 

 brighter, deeper red and fully as good in qual- 

 ity. This is certainly a fine tomato for those 

 who prize large size and bright color. Pkt. 5c; 

 Oz. 25c; 2 Oz, 40c; ^ Lb. 75c; Lb. $2,25 

 CTf|MF This is the heaviest and most solid 

 ^ "^'~^ fruited of the large tomatoes of good 

 quality. Our stock is distinctly superior to 

 most of that offered under this name, being 

 more uniform, better colored and larger. Vines 

 vigorous and productive. Fruit round, apple- 

 shaped, very large, very deep red in color and 

 astonishingly heavy. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 26c; 2 Oz. 40c; 

 ^Lb. 75c. Lb. $3.25 

 QUARTER CENTURY. Vine dwarf and com- 

 pact, like the well known Dwarf Champion. Fruit 

 scarlet-red, medium sized, very smooth and of ex- 

 cellent quality, either for the table or for can- 

 ning. Earlier than Dwarf Stone. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 35c; 

 2 Oz. 60c; H Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 

 riu/arf Qinnp Vine dwarf but very vigorous and pro- 

 UWal A OIUUC ductive. While maturing with the later 

 sorts the fruit is of good color, exceedingly smooth, very 

 solid, and the largest in size of any of the dwarf varieties. 

 Pkt. 5c; Oz. 30c; 

 3 Oz.55c; ^ Lb. $1.00; 

 Lb. $3.00 



EARLY JEWEL 



CHAI K'S ^^^ consider this one of the 

 v/iir^t^i\ o very best early tomatoes yet 

 intToduced. Vinevig 

 orous and very pro- 

 ductive. Fruit deep scarlet-red, smooth, of laige 

 size and excellent quality. Pkt. 5c.; Oz. 35c; 

 3 Oz.GOc: % Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 {See colored 

 plate, page IS; further description page 2). 



Stone Tomato. 



