D. M. FERRY <C CO’S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 
57 
A Cluster of Optimus as Grown on Our Trial Grounds. 
FIRST EARLY SORTS. 
Early Conqueror. — This seems to be the earliest in 
the North, and is very popular. Vines medium size, vig¬ 
orous, productive, bearing immense clusters of fruit, 
which is medium in size, irregular, flattened and slightly 
corrugated, scarlet crimson color, often dotted and 
splashed with gold color. 
Hundred Day. — In the South this seems to be the 
earliest sort, and is largely used for shipping North. 
Vine small, with few and small leaves, bearing small 
clusters of irregular shaped fruit of medium size, dis¬ 
tinct bright scarlet-vermilion color, flat with broad, 
shallow corrugations at the stem, but perfectly smooth 
and of a regular, wavy outline at center. Quality very 
good, and ripens well after picking. 
Canada Victor.—Very early. Vines large, spread¬ 
ing, productive. Fruit of light scarlet color, round, 
smooth, of medium size, solid, and ripening up well. A 
very popular variety. 
RED VARIETIES FOR GENERAL CROP. 
D. M. Ferry & Co’s Optimus.—A variety intro¬ 
duced by us, and, we believe, the best table tomato in 
existence. Vine medium sized, but vigorous, healthy 
and productive, bearing its fruit in clusters of five. 
Although not presented as a first early sort, many of our 
customers report that they have obtained ripe fruit from 
this as early as from any variety. Fruit medium sized, 
oval, very smooth, exceedingly bright, rich, crimson- 
scarlet color; very free from cracks, and rotting less than 
any of the seventy varieties with which it has been 
compared. The flesh is of a crimson-scarlet color quite 
distinct from, and more beautiful than, that of any other 
sort, and it is also the best in flavor and entirely free 
from the hard spots found in other large sorts. During 
the past season a large canning factory has used this 
variety exclusively, and as a result their goods have met 
with ready sale at quite an advance over the current 
price. As a result of this extensive trial, we now claim 
that the Optimus is not only the best for home use and 
for market, but it is the best canning tomato in culti¬ 
vation. We think that anyone who plants this sort 
either in a garden or for market will be satisfied that it 
is the most productive, the handsomest and best 
tomato in existence, and will not care to plant any 
other except for extremely early fruit. 
Livingston’s Favorite.—Vine medium, with large, 
dark green, healthy leaves, having numerous clusters of 
from three to seven very large, smooth tomatoes, which 
are a rich, dark red color, of oval outline, exceedingly 
smooth; flesh very firm, but without green spots. This 
is a favorite variety on account of its smooth, handsome 
fruit. 
Trophy.—Well known as one of the best. Vines of 
medium size, but producing compact clusters of fruit in 
immense quantities; fruit large, smooth, of bright red 
color, solid and of good flavor. We have expended a 
great deal of labor on the improvement of this old sort, 
and think that the seed we offer is as good as can be 
grown. 
Paragon.—Vine very large, vigorous and productive, 
and continuing so until killed by frost. Fruit large, 
round, of a very dark, rich crimson-scarlet color, with # 
occasionally a purplish tinge. It ripens up evenly, and 
the flesh is thick and fine flavored. 
Livingston’s Perfection.—A new variety, similar 
to the last, but an improvement upon it. it being a little 
earlier, and invariably smooth and handsome. It is one 
of the handsomest tomatoes grown, and all who have 
tried it pronounce it of the highest quality. 
