1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
i4i 
Last yfear, the firm offered $200 for a name for a new 
pea which was for the year designated as “1897’*: 
The prize was given to the name “ Prosperity”, which 
was sent in by 29 different persons. We have tried 
this pea, and have this to say about it now. Our more 
specific report will follow in a week or so. It proved 
to be as early as Nott’s Excelsior. The vines grew 
nearly three feet high, bearing pods as large as those 
of Telephone or Stratagem, the seeds being fully as 
large. The quality is “ best ”, the color of a bright 
gfeeri fihade when cooked. It is positively asserted by 
some that this is the same as GraduS. Thdt may he 
so. We have not tried the variety under that name. 
Certain it is that, whichever name it is entitled 
to, it is the best and most productive eaidy 
wrinkled pea we have ever tried. The firm is 
introducing other new vegetables and flowers 
for which an aggregate of $1,000 is offered for 
the elected names. The Early Bovee potato is 
called the “Marvel of the Age”. Attention 
was first called to this excellent early variety 
by The It. N.-Y. There are two varieties sent 
out under this name, and they are very different 
as we know from trial. The Sir Walter ltaleigh 
is alluded to as the best of The It. N.-Y.’s 
originations. See Fig. 02. 
A. It. Wesson & Co., Bridgman, Mich.—A cat¬ 
alogue of the leading strawberries and small 
fruits. 
H. N. Hammond, Decatur, Mich.—A condensed 
catalogue of the choicest varieties of seed pota¬ 
toes, Vegetable's and flower seeds. It is claimed 
for the Hammond’s Early Michigan potato that 
it is about one week earlier than the Early Ohio, 
of far better quality, and planted beside that 
variety, it will outyield it three to one. Mr. 
Hammond says that it is without exception the 
handsomest potato he has ever grown. The 
skin is snowy white and the flesh of superior 
quality.. At the Michigan Agricultural College, last 
year, it outyielded 84 other varieties tested. We shall 
try to make this onfe of the kinds of our Great Flower¬ 
pot experiment next season. 
W. M. Peters’s Sons, Wesley Station, Md.—A cata¬ 
logue of fruits, large and small. The farms of this 
firm are located in Worcester County, Md.—over 1,200 
acres—the best portions of which are given to nursery 
stock. Those having peach trees to buy should ex¬ 
amine this catalogue. All of the best .Japan plums 
are described. 
.1. M. TndRBURN & Co., 15 John Street, New York.—A 
descriptive catalogue of seeds which is ptohbuncedthe 
largest collection in the world. This catalogue of 125 
pages is without exaggeration, either as to illustra¬ 
tions or descriptions. The list of evergreen, decidu¬ 
ous and shrub seeds is unequaled by any other list 
that we have seen. The New Giant Cosmos flowers 
(elsewhere noted) are said to measure from four to 
five inches in diameter, varying in form and color. 
The beautiful Japan Morning-glories and their peculiar 
markings are well shown in Fig. 61. The new let- 
11. M. Ferry & Co., Detroit, Mich.—A catalogue of 
field, vegetable and flower seeds of 100 pages. No 
other seed firm in this country has earned a higher 
reputation for fair dealing. Through their extensive 
trial grounds and years of painstaking work, they are 
enabled to offer the best seeds, and those trite to name. 
One cover shows, in colors, the Mammoth White Cory 
sweet corn. To this variety, wc call the special at¬ 
tention of our readers. The ears are in size the largest 
of the first-early kinds, and average 12 rows. The 
cob is white, the kernels extra white, the quality 
better than that of Cory. The catalogue well says 
that “no other sweet corn will find ready sale in a 
JAPAN MORNING-GLORIES. Half Size. Fig. 61. 
tuce, Thorburn Maximum, is described as the largest 
and most solid of all the head lettuces, and the quality 
is perfect. The Family rutabaga is a new strain for 
family use, differing from other sorts in its strap 
leaf. The flesh is slightly yellow and of finest quality. 
The firm announces the publication of a much-needed, 
up-to-date book entitled, Garden-Making, which gives, 
with many illustrations, full directions for the culti¬ 
vation of vegetables, flowers, fruits, etc., and also, 
suggestions for the utilizing of home grounds. Prof. 
Bailey, of Cornell University, is the author. A circu¬ 
lar gives a full synopsis of its contents. 
SIR WALTER RALEIGH POTATO. 
market which is supplied with the Mammoth White 
Cory.” This firm finds Golden Yellow Self-blanching, 
Rose Ribbed Paris, and Evans’s Triumph the best varie¬ 
ties of celery. D. M. Ferry & Co. are, probably, the 
largest growers of peas in America, and no pains are 
spared to keep the varieties pure. Those who have peas 
to buy, will do well to examine this list. McGotter’s 
Pride, as judged by the description, must take a front 
rank among muskmelons. “ How to Raise Onions ” 
tells concisely in a small space what is no more help¬ 
fully told in book treatises. 
Frank Ford & Son, Ravenna, O.—A catalogue of 
seeds, potatoes, plants, trees, small and large fruits. 
Thirty-six photographic illustrations of potatoes ap¬ 
pear on one page. T*he seeds offered by this firm are 
sent postpaid. Early Vermont corn, Crimson Beauty 
bean, Ford's Early corn, Eureka raspberry, Oregon 
Long-keeper onion, Advance tomato and Lincoln 
potato are made specialties by this concern. 
F. Bartkldks & Co., 804 Massachusetts Street, Law¬ 
rence, Kan.—A general catalogue—100 pages—of farm 
and garden seeds, fruit, deciduous and evergreen 
seeds. Among the latter are seeds of the Colorado 
Blue spruce, Douglas spruce and Yellow pine. Among 
the former, are most of the useful and ornamental 
trees. Speaking of the Idaho Field or Coffee pea, the 
claim is made that it grows almost anywhere, being 
especially adapted to the arid regions, and “ produces 
more stock food to the acre than any other plant. 
Cooked like the garden pea, it is just as good for the 
table and makes delicious soup. In so far as known, 
it has no insect enemies.” 
T. C. Kkvitt, Athenia, N. J.—A catalogue of small 
fruits with strawberries as a specialty. He places 
Glen Mary at the head. Brandywine, the catalogue 
says, is regarded by America’s most noted strawberry 
expert as “ unquestionably the best late berry for any 
purpose.” A new blackberry called Himalaya Giant, 
now offered for the first, is described in this wise: 
“ The vines, which are quite thorny, make an annual 
growth of 15 to 20 feet. The large berries, which 
ripen in September, are sweet and rich in flavor, with 
rather larger seeds than usual. They grow in enor¬ 
mous clusters 12 to 18 inches long, giving the appear¬ 
ance of a gallon or so to each cluster.” The descrip¬ 
tion reminds us of the old Cut-leafed European 
variety, Rubus fruticosus. Collections of Japan plums, 
peaches and small fruits are put up in such various 
combinations that one or the other will be sure to 
please any one. The prices are astonishingly low. 
William Henry Maule, 1711 Filbert Street, Phila¬ 
delphia, Pa.—A large-sized, showy catalogue with 
colored covers and several colored pages. One of 
these shows sweet peas, another Dahlias, another As¬ 
ters, pansies, Petunias, Phlox and Chrysanthemums, 
and another a new carrot, a new pea and a new water¬ 
melon. Mr. Maule wants a name for a new tomato, 
and $100 will be presented to the person who sends an 
acceptable name. Eight of these tomatoes placed side 
by side are precisely the length of a yard stick, as 
shown in a reduced colored picture. The tomato is 
regarded as, in all respects, superior to any variety 
thus far introduced. Nott’s Perfection pea, it is 
claimed, is superior to Nott’s Excelsior. Nott’s Per¬ 
fection was first mentioned in print in The R. N.-Y. 
in 1896. The R. N.-Y. had the honor, also, to be the 
first to mention Nott’s Excelsior and Bliss’s American 
Wonder. The vines of the Perfection are, at least, 
one-third higher than those of the Excelsior. In 
shape, the pods are about the same. It is as prolific 
as the Excelsior, the peas coming in just as the Excel¬ 
sior goes out. Perfection gave us the first picking 
June 19 ; June 22 we made the second picking of Per¬ 
fection, and the last of Excelsior. The peas 
average large ; the quality about the same. 
E. J. Hull, Olyphant, Pa.—Tenth annual cat¬ 
alogue of small fruits, with the strawberry as a 
specialty, of which 100 varieties are offered. 
The Seaford and Ruby are new kinds and highly 
commended. 
James J. II. Gregory & Sons, Marblehead, 
Mass.—A catalogue of home-grown seeds. We 
are always pleased to notice this catalogue be¬ 
cause it always aims to instruct those who care 
to examine it. Among novelties, Gregory’s Sur¬ 
prise pea should take a first place which, as we 
shall show later from our own trial, is fully as 
early as any of the first-early smooth peas. The 
quality is perfect. Of the Triumph watermelon, 
it is said that Mr. Girardeau, the originator, 
raised on 2% acres, 2,418 melons, which averaged 
over 40 pounds each. Mr. Gregory offers the 
“Enormous” potato. Mr. Manum, the origi¬ 
nator, raised 604 bushels on a measured acre, 
being a “light, sandy loam.” The Pennsylvania 
Agricultural College reports that it yielded the 
best of 30 varieties—480 bushels per acre—of 
which 98.90 per cent were merchantable, large 
and smooth. Many other stations give equally 
favorable reports. 
Cole’s Garden Annual, Pella, Iowa.— A neat, con¬ 
cise catalogue of vegetable, field and flower seeds 
with 18 pages devoted to specialties, and the special¬ 
ties are well selected. 
Coe & Converse, Fort Atkinson, Wis.—A plain, in¬ 
teresting catalogue of small fruits, fruit and orna¬ 
mental trees, roses, shrubs and vines. Twelve varie¬ 
ties, each of the popular kinds, and of raspberries, are 
offered by the dozen for $1. 
It. J. StaheliN, Bridgman, Mich.—A catalogue of 
strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, 
currants and grapes. Also a descriptive price-list of 
purebred poultry, including Indian Games, Buff 
Cochins, Light Brahmas, White Wyandottes and Ply¬ 
mouth Rocks. 
HARRIS Rural Annual, Joseph Harris Company, 
Moreton Farm, Monroe County, N. Y.—A large-sized 
SUCCESS BARLEY. Fig 
See Page 143. 
catalogue of vegetable and farm seeds. Mr. S. M. 
Harris, the son of his distinguished father, Joseph 
Harris, is the manager. The specialties are seed po¬ 
tatoes, cabbage, celery, tomatoes and beans. Harris’s 
Short-stem cabbage, it is claimed, is the best large 
late cabbage grown. Potomac tomato is described as 
unequaled in quality, enormously productive, large, 
solid and absolutely smooth. What interests us most 
is the Washington potato, which we shall try the 
coming season. Mr. Harris says that it yields enor¬ 
mously, resists blight, is the handsomest large white 
potato, and the nearest to perfection yet attained. 
