22 



MAULE'S NOVELTIES AND SPECIALTIES FOR 1901. 



Harris' Earliest Watermelon, f 



The Largest, Sweetest and Best Shipping Extra Early ^ 

 Melon on the American Market. S 



a 



Pkt., 10 cts.; oz., 15 cts., % lb., 50 cts.) lb., $1.50. » 



Last year 1 listed this watermelon for the first time, ft 

 offering a cash prize of 8100 for the finest specimen f 

 grown from my seed during 1900. Many splendid e 

 melons were forwarded to me, some of them traveling X 

 a thousand miles or more. All arrived in good condi- g| 

 tion; one of them weighing 41>£ pounds, raised by Mr, d 

 F. M, Kimes, Barber, Ark., secured the prize. 9 

 As a summary of last season's experience <? 

 with Harris' Earliest Watermelon, I may say * 

 that it is the earliest watermelon on the mar- ® 

 ket; that it is the sweetest early melon, that it * 

 will outyield all the other early melons now 2, 

 grown, and in addition it is the largest. g 



Harris Earliest Watermelon originated with Mr. * 

 B. F. Harris, of Tennessee, who says : "For twenty . 

 years we have been trying to find an extra early water- J* 

 melon, one that we surely could depend upon, one f 

 with which we could beat all competitors, and one T 

 that would be the first on the market; and at last our J 

 efforts are crowned with success. We have succeeded g 

 beyond all expectations. We are sure that we are able f 

 to introduce the earliest watermelon in the world. >L 

 We have never seen its equal." n 



There can be no doubt that Harris' Earliest Water- g, 

 melon is a very valuable acquisition. It is a good sized ft 

 melon for one that is so extremely early. It is beauti- 2 

 fully striped, of attractive size and appearance, and 

 of the very finest table quality. It has black seeds. J 



Harris' Earliest Watermelon was originated by crossing Kolb's Gem 

 with Cole's Early, Hungarian Honey and a small Russian watermelon 

 of the very finest flavor. Through droughts and floods and insect 

 pests it has never failed to make a fair crop. It varies somewhat in 

 shape and size, being round to oblong in form, and weighing all the 

 way from 12 to 41% pounds, the average weight being 15 to 20 pounds. 



I regard the introducer's claim, that it is the earliest watermelon in 

 the world, as well founded; certainly that it is the earliest that will bear 

 shipment. The melon was tested during the season of 1899 at the Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station of the University of Tenn., at Knoxville, 

 and under date of Aug. 17th, Mr. Harris received the following report : 



"The Harris' Earliest Watermelon seeds sent us for trial, produced 

 melons weighing from 12 to 15 pounds in 63 days. It was the earliest 

 watermelon grown on our trial grounds." 



This is what the Experiment Station in Mr. Harris' own State has to 

 say in regard to his early melon. His neighbors have equally as favor- 

 able reports to Qiase in regard to it. 



M. F. Smith, Edgewood, says: I planted Harris' Earliest Watermelon 1st of 

 May, and had ripe melons the 4th of July. 



J. M. Thompson, J. P., Edgewood, says: Harris' Earliest Watermelon ripened for 

 me this year in 62 days from the day of planting. 



W. H. McMillan, Charlotte, says: Harris' Earliest Watermelon seed produced 

 nice ripe melons in 65 days from the day the seeds were planted. 



T. Et. Dickson, Charlotte, says: We planted Harris' Earliest Watermelon this 

 year; it was at least two weeks ahead of all others. The quality is the very best. 



C. C. Donegan, Tennessee City, says: I am pleased with Harris' Early Water- 

 melon. I had tine melons in 63 days. 



Daniel & Loggins, Dull, says ; Harris' Earliest Watermelons sold by ua this sea- 

 son weighed from 15 to 20 pounds, at least two weeks ahead of all other early melons. 



The unanimous endorsement given Harris' Earliest Watermelon last 

 fall by my customers was a constant source of comment. Every day I 

 was in receipt of really magnificent melons, and although, as stated be- 

 fore, many of them came a thousand miles or more, they reached 

 Philadelphia in most superb condition. I have only room here for a 

 few reports from my customers as follows: 



E. C. Morrison, Neenah, Wisconsin: I send you to-day a Harris' Early Water- 

 melon weighing 25 pounds. On the 25th of August we cut our first one, which 

 weighed 20 pounds, and was excellent. They were planted May 23rd. 



E. F. Willoughby, Sarcoxie, Mo. I ship you to-day a Harris' Early Watermelon 

 grown from seed purchased of you this year. I planted the seed on the 23rd day of 

 May, and pulled this melon the23rd day of July, It weighs 28 pounds. I have nearly 

 five carloads of all kinds growing, but the Harris' beats them all for earliness. 



W. W. DeVault, Austin Springs, Tenn. I ship you a Harris' Watermelon weigh- 

 ing 27 pounds, this melon ripened in 65 days from the time the seed was planted. I 

 trust it will reach you O. K., and you will find it as fine as the one I cut here. 



Daniel Steck, Hughesville', Pa. Harris' Earliest Watermelon is by far the earli- | 

 est watermelon I have ever raised. Planted the 15th of May, the first ripe melon 

 was pulled the 26th of July. The vines continued to bear all summer: the last melon | 

 was taken from the vines Oct. 1st; there was not a melon of poor quality in the lot. 



Hugh McLain, Camden, O. I have been growing melons for forty years; and J 

 Harris' Earliest is one of if not the best 1 have ever raised. 



Fred. L. Onions, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 1 send you to-day by express, two Harris' 

 Early Watermelons, one weighing 32 pounds, the other 29)^. ' This is a good melon 

 and they are great bearers, if nothing happens I shall put out 50 acres next year. 



John Kasley, Ro' - heport, Mo. I send you to-day a Harris Earliest Watermelon, 

 weighing 32 pounds. This variety is all you claim for it. It is the coming melon. 



I think the above is sufficient endorsement to induce every melon 

 grower, desiring an extra early watermelon of delicious fiavorand super- 

 ior shipping qualities, to give Harris' Earliest n trial. Erom present 

 appearances, the demand promises to exceed 1 lie supply, so all desiring 

 the seed in quantity should send in early orders. 



Pkt., 10 cts.; oz., 15 cts.; \4 pound, 50 cts.; pound, 81.50; 5 pounds, *(! 00. 



The cultural directions on every packet of Vegetable Seeds are writ- 

 ten by Mr. T. Greiner, the greatest authority in America on gardening 

 matters and revised by me. They are right up-to-date. 



PHILADELPHIA 



For more than a hundred years has been headquarters for 

 everything good in the American seed trade. More seeds are 

 annually distributed from Philadelphia than any other City in 

 the Union. .More sterling novelties have been introduced by 

 Philadelphia than by all America put together. 



The Western Beedsmen recognize this fact, hence, their fre- 

 quent reference to Philadelphia seedsmen in their catalogues. 



You need never be ashamed to tell your neighbors you obtain 

 your seeds in Philadelphia, he know s there is no better place. 



Then why not send your order to headquarters, and have the 

 best and most up-to-date garden in your neighborhood. 



I give herewith a photograph of my head bookkeeper, Mr. 

 Jos. A. Compton, who has been with me for 12 years. 



This photograph, token last Fall, shows him in his office, 

 standing alongside of my order books; piled one on top of an- 

 other they would make one pile 12 feet high, and as we could 

 not do this w ithout their toppling over, we divided them, mak- 

 ing two piles as show n herewith. They contain the names of 

 §66,186 customers w ho have planted Maule's Seeds. 



No other seed establishment, North, South, East or West, 

 can show such an array of books as these, containing, as they 

 do, the names and addresses of more than half h million well 

 satisfied customers of Maule's Seeds. 



