56 
D. M. FERRY & CO’S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
TOMATO 
Tomatoes do best on light, warm, not over-rich soil and success depends largely upon securing a rapid, vigorous and uncheck¬ 
ed growth during the early part of the season. Sow in hotbed or in shallow boxes m the house 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 water 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. If to be grown without training, the plants are 
usually set from three to four feet apart each way according to the vigor of growth of the variety. 
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 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 at intervals of a week. 
By such a method of training and trimming the fruits are 
kept clear from the ground and with free access of sun¬ 
light they ripen much earlier; the vitality, otherwise ex¬ 
hausted in superfluous branches and leaves, is utilized in 
forming fruits of largest size, greatest perfection of shape 
and best quality. For further cultural directions see 
books listed on inside of back cover. 
All our Tomato seeds are from seed stocks carefully 
selected and saved by ourselves. We challenge compari¬ 
son of our stocks with any offered. 
P | • Our strain of this first early sort is earlier 
Hariiana and decidedly superior to much that is sold 
as Sparks' Earliana, and the extreme earliness of its 
large, smooth fruits makes it a very profitable tomato 
for market gardeners, as well as desirable for the home 
garden. The vines are small but vigorous and produc¬ 
tive. The fruits are bright deep scarlet, medium to 
large, nearly round and exceptionally smooth for so 
early a variety. The fruits are borne in clusters near 
the base of the plant and the bulk of the crop ripens 
very early. (See colored plate , page 10 and further 
description in Supplement , page 10) Pkt 5c- Oz 35c* 
2 Oz. 60c; V 4 Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3^50 
I i M An ex . tra earl >; scarlet fruited variety of 
*JOnn Daer superior merit. The vines are very 
hardy and exceptionally productive. The fruits are the 
largest of the extra early sorts and are also most attrac¬ 
tive in color. They are nearly round, smooth, firm and 
of excellent quality. It is one of the very earliest to 
ripen its first fruits and it continues to furnish market¬ 
able fruits much longer than other very early varieties. 
It is an invaluable sort for market gardeners’ use. (See 
cut in Supplement , page 10) Pkt. 5c; Oz. 50c; 2 Oz. 85c; Chalk’s Early Jewel 
Vi Lb. $1.40; Lb. $5.00 
!>• l_ An extra early, purplish pink tomato similar to the popular scarlet fruited Earliana in growth of vine, shape 
«junc * intv and size of fruits and time of maturing. A valuable variety for market gardeners who want a very early, 
purplish pmk tomato. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 35c; 2 Oz. 60c; Vi Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 
Roct T he ^ ruits oJJ this desirable early sort are most attractive in shape and color. The crop ripens more uni- 
DOnny Desi formly than any other early scarlet fruited sort, and is of superior solidity and interior color. The vines 
are vigorous and produce' a good crop of exceptionally 
round and deep fruits, bright deep scarlet in color and of 
very good quality. One of tin- best for gardeners whose trade 
demands fruits of beautiful shape and color. A very good 
variety for the early market and home garden. Pkt. 5c; 
Oz. 40c; 2 Oz. 75c; Vi Lb. $1.25; Lb. $4.00 
pi a i r i v i One of the very best early 
^haiK S fc-arly Jewel tomatoes yet introducecf. 
The vines are vigorous and very productive. The fruits are 
bright deep scarlet-red, nearly round or somewhat flattened, 
smooth, of large size and most excellent quality. They 
ripen very early and the pickings continue through a long 
season. It is a most desirable sort for the home garden. 
Pkt. 5c; Oz. 35c; 2 Oz. 60c; Vi Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 
r^*._•«. T* lis splendid variety, introduced by us 
£.arly Lletroit in 1009, is the largest and best of the 
early purplish pink tomatoes. The vines are vigorous and 
very productive. The fruits are very smooth, uniform in 
size, nearly globe-shaped, firm, and of excellent quality. 
Early Detroit is one of the most valuable shipping tomatoes 
yet produced. It is also desirable for the home garden and 
near markets. (See further description in Supplement , 
page 10) Pkt. 5c; Oz. 40c; 2 Oz. 75c; Vi Lb. $1.25; Lb. $4.00 
x This well known sort is sold also as Essex Early 
ACme Hybrid. The vines are large, hardy and productive, 
ripening their first fruits very early, although not an extra 
early variety. The fruits are. purplish pink, round, smooth 
andof medium size, free from cracksandstandshipmentvery 
well. Acme is also used extensively for the home garden. 
The flesh is solid and of excellent flavor. Pkt. 5c* Oz 30c* 
2 Oz. 50c; Vi Lb. 90c; Lb. $2.75 
17~~l, r A second early,bright red variety of 
HclTly Michigan the best quality. The vines are vigor¬ 
ous and productive. The fruits are of medium size, very 
smooth and of very attractive crimson-scarlet color. Pkt. 5c; 
Early Detroit Oz. 30c; 2 Oz. 55c; Vi Lb. 90c; Lb. $3.00 
