T[J?e Qveat "No. 400" Toi^ato 

 i\o logger Nan^eless. 



Read tl^e S^ry ; . „ ^ 



of tl7e 



Greatest 



arid best advertised 



Vegetable jNJoVelty 



of tl]e Gei^tUry. 



ON our first page wo make the sweeping claim that we have been identi- 

 fied Willi either tlie originating or introduction of more new and valu- 

 able seeds aud plants than any otiier house in the country, a statement 

 tliat thousands interested in tlje development of hortioulture would 

 quicltly eorroborato. Yet we must admit that with, perhaps, the single excep- 

 tion of tliat wonderful novelty llrst introduced and mimed by us, the BUSH 

 IiIMA BEAN, we neveroB'erod anytldng that lias, within so sliort a time, created 

 the same great interest, or wliidi possesses more real merit, tliantlie phenome- 

 nal Tomato distributed by us last year under tlie No. 400. Undoubtedly our 

 offer of $250 for the best name stimulated an interest in (lie variety ; but over- 

 shadowing tliat feature was the fact, tliat we never for a moment lost sight of, 

 that tlie variety itself was the grandest and most valuable Tomato the world 

 hag ever known. Hundreds who took no interest in tlie name contest, but who 

 planted the variety on our statement of its merits, have told us that in offering 

 it last year we had not sung its praises halt as loudly as it deserved. To that 

 charge we plead guilty, and will endeavor this season to make amends tor our 

 scant tribute to No. 400 by detailing at greater length the manifold merits 

 of PONDEROSA. 



The PONDEROSA possesses every good quality to be found in a 

 tomato. The vines arc strong and vigorous and easily carry their enormous 

 -weight of fruit. Its massive or ponderous fruits are almost perfect in form, and 

 so free from ridges or corrugations as to seem nearly as smooth as glass ; and 

 when we come to size, weight and solidity, no otlier Tomato begins to approach 

 it. When we state that single Tomatoes weighing nearly FOUR POUHLS have 

 lieen grown, and that specimens weighing two and three pounds each are of 

 common occurrence, some idea may be formed of whiit this leviathan is like. 

 Tlie skin is exceedingly firm, whicn will cause it to be largely grown for ship- 

 ping purposes. On the back cover of this catalogue we have tried to portray 

 the color of the skin of PON DEROSA. Excellent as the work is, it does 

 not do justice to the rich crimson of tlie original. The distinctive hue of tlie skin 

 permeates tlie fruit in like intensity from circumference to centre, so that when 

 sliced for tlie table its rare lieauty never fails to elicit general admiration. Its 



remarkable solidity is happily expressed in one 

 " that it is nearly as firm as an apple." A marked p 

 it is almost seedless, and while this charaeteristi 

 persons, this same peculiarity makes us pay five 

 grown as that of any other sort. Large fruits or 

 at the expense of earliness, but here the PON 

 lloors our preconceived ideas on tills point by dt 

 as most of tlie older sorts whose only merit is tl 

 writes that ho had splendid tomatoes of the 

 from sowing the seed. Its flavor is delicious, w 

 cannerwho grew it last year says it is going to I 

 the tomatoes are so large and smooth that there 



Last season we exhibited this Tomato in fr< 

 laiidt Street, New York, and it elicited the admir 

 comment passed upon it there was : " Why, one 

 it was. 



We feel that we have told the leading meri 

 it the unsolicited testimonials on the other si< 

 furtiier praise of PONDEROSA will be foui 



BEWARE 



year, either 



" 400 " 



400." Genu 

 in packets tliat 

 Mark Label. 

 bear our label, f< 



Price, 20 ct 

 $1.00, 12 pack 

 $3.00. 



Free by maill 



Oiiv Pren^ibn^ of $250,^ 

 We divided equally 



betWeer^ 5 Gorjtestai^tS 



\VI70 suggested tl7e 

 sUccessfdl i^an^e. 



WI70 tl^e Judges 



ai^d sdccessfdl 



Goi^testai^ts Were. 



<lif our testimonials, which says 

 eculiarity of this variety is tliat 

 c commends its use to delicate 

 imes as much to have the seed 

 egetables are usually obtained 



I SEROSA again steps in and 

 monstrating that it is as early 

 tat they are early. One patron 

 PONDEROSA in 100 days 

 hether used raw or cooked. A 

 e a grand sort for him, because 

 is no waste in handling, 

 at of our seed stores in Cort- 

 ition of thousands. A frequent 

 is enough for a meal." And so 



ts of tills glorious Tomato, but 

 of this sheet are read, still 

 id. 



F TOMATO SEED sold this 



" Ponder osa," W'e 



:ven as " Henderson's 



ine seed can be obtained only 

 are seakd with our red Trarle- 

 P ;eject any seed that does not 

 irm of which is here shown. 



per packet, 6 pacliets for 

 ets for $1.75, 25 packets for 



at prices named. 



NOW THEN FO" '892 WE OFFER SSDO.gg 



in cash premiums for the Heaviest and Best Formed Single Tomatoes gr..wn from 

 seed of the PONDEROSA purchased in 1H92, flU.cr from usin our packets, 

 scaled with our Red Trade-Mark Label, r.r bought elsewhere, proviiled, 

 always, that the packets boar the nuui.> ■•PONDEROSA," and are scaled with 

 our Red Trade-Mark Label. Tliose intending to compote tor those premium.^ 

 must so state at the time of ordering the seed, so that wo can record it. It 

 this is not done tlieir specimens cannot be considered in the comiielitlon. la 

 accordance with above conditions, and others stated below, we offer 



$500.00 to be distributed as follows : 



For the Heaviest and Best Formed Single Tomato *ioO ^0 



;; 3d " "' " ■' " .'■■■" 7500 



„ 4?h .. 50.00 



*^? „ „ .. .. ■• 35.00 



■ c»S •. " " " " 30.00 



;; f^ .' •'.... 25.00 



"5° , .. .• " 10.00 



:.iSth ■; •• 



Total $500.00 



All specimens for competition must be delivered at our stores, 35 and 37 

 Cortlandt Street, New York, on or before Oct. 1.5th, 1892. Specimens from a 

 distance should be carefully packed and sent by express, ciiargcs paid. The 

 names of the winners and the weights of the specimens wUl be announced in 

 our Catalogue tor 1893. 



In the above distribution it will be seen that every competitor has ten 

 chances to secure a premium. We are determined that this contest shall be the 

 largest of its kind ever attempted, and we shall aid in every way to make it so. 



