'T'HESE two Currants are Novelties of great importance When you consider the enormous 
1 size and beauty of the fruit, great productiveness, hardiness and vigor of the bushes, (out- 
yielding other varieties almost two to one), we may be pardoned if we feel a little pride in being 
t he introducer of them. Empire is deep ruby red ; Purity, pure white, the two contrasting mag 
nificently when seen together. In size the fruit is often 2% inches in circumference and borne 
in clusters four inches long, while bushes two years from the cuttings yield six to ten quarts 
each. The fruit being so very large and excellent sells readily at almost double the price real¬ 
ized for other sorts. It seems hardly necessary for us to say anything more about them. Their 
great value will be apparent, but we publish here two affidavits from the originator and grower. 
We have purchased the entire stock of both varieties and offer them now for the first time. 
My Dear Sir: — In reply to your inquiry in regard to the new seedling Currants, Enpire 
and Purity, I will say that I saw them in fruit several years and believe them to be the largest 
and finest in the fruit I ever saw; and also vigorous, strong growers, bearing young. I watched 
1 hem with care and being convinced that they were the best in existence 1 purchased the entire 
stock of both. They have borne six to ten quarts of fruit on two-year-old cuttings. I have seen 
them in fruit in the same row with Fay’s and Cherry and they are superior in all respects. 
Yours truly, 
State ok New York, 'j C. E. Chapman. 
County of Tompkins , > ss. 
Ton<n of Groton. ) 
On this 22d day of January in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven before 
me, the subscriber, personally appeared C. E. Chapman, to me known to be the same person de¬ 
scribed in and who executed the within instrument, and he acknowledged that he executed the 
same. J. M. Montfort, Justice of the Peace. 
Dear Sir : — In reply to your inquiries I would say that I originated the red Currant, now 
named Empire, from seed of Fay’s Prolific, and sold the entire stock to Mr. Chapman. It is 
larger in size, more productive, superior in quality, and a week or ten days later than its parent. 
1 grew clusters of the fruit this season measuring four inches in length and some of the fruit 
measured 2% inches in circumference. I also originated the white Currant, named Purity, 
from seed of the White Grape, which it surpasses in size, quality and productiveness, and sold 
the entire stock to Mr. Chapman. I sold the fruit of the Empire the past season at 12 and 14 
cents per quart when other sorts were slow sale at 6 and 8 cents. I sold the fruit of Purity at 
i2 and 14 cents per quart under the same conditions of the market. L. S. Johnson. 
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of January, 1897. 
John W. Sugcett, Notary Public. 
Another valuable point about these new Currants, which we omitted to mention above, is 
their lateness in ripening. They ripen somewhat later than other varieties, therefore escaping 
the great glut and low prices which Currants bring in the height of the fruiting season. Empire 
and Purity coming in later, and being so much finer in size and appearance, virtually have the 
field to themselves and will always sell for very profitable prices. 
PRICE : — PURITY, Giant White. Strong bushes, 60c. each ; 2 for $1.00. 
EMPIRE, Giant Red. “ “ 40c. “ 3 “ $1.00. 
One each of the two sorts for Soc.; 3 each for $2.00. 
Guilds’ Qiaijt Rdby Gdrrai^t. 
One of the finest of all Currants. It is of remarkable strong growth, and in the size and 
quality of the fruit is really a marvel. The berries are very large, borne in enormous clusters of 
twenty to thirty, yet leaving room near the wood to make picking easily done without bruising or 
crushing the berries. In color they are the most beautiful ruby scarlet, sparkling and glossy, 
and being so large in size they catch every eye, and sell more readily and for much better prices 
than any other variety. It is now being largely planted where Fay’s and other sorts have been 
pulled out, for it is a greater and surer bearer than any other. In this locality it easily produces 
three or four times as much fruit as Fay’s or Cherry, and the fruit is certainly much <v.or in 
every respect. Mr. N. Hallock, a Director of the New York State Agricultural Experiment 
Station, says: “ I have grown the Giant Ruby Currant for four years. Bushes three years set 
yielded the past season five pounds of fine fruit where F'ay’s Prolific, in the same lot, has been 
an entire failure. Of the seven or eight kinds I grow Giant Ruby yields double the quantity of 
fruit of any of them." 20c. each; 3 for 50c.; 7 for $1.00; 100 for §10.00. 
Four Fine Sorts for $1.00. —For only $1.00 we will send one each of Empire, Purity, Giant 
Ruby and Crandall Tree Currants, 
