VEGETABLE SEED NOVELTIES 
m 
I 
15 
We will Pay 
$ 200.00 
Fora Name for 
this New Pea. 
See Conditions Below. 
HidfMsM 1897 
I ^ (SEE COLORED PLATE ON OPPOSITE PAGE.) J \ U P' Jf M 
ft 
We will Pay 
$ 200.00 
For a Name for 
this New Pea. 
See Conditions Below. 
THE EARLIEST WRINKLED PEA GROWN! 
You may now have j _ „ _ c Or as soon 
LARGE TENDER PEAS, V t*ly 1 as you have heretofore had 
Sweet and Delicious, ) ( the ordinary early kinds. 
ENORMOUS PEAS. ENORMOUS PODS. ENORMOUS YI ELDER. 
Wo have never yet been able to offer to our patrons an early Pea 
which possessed in a marked degree any of the other and more 
desirable qualities which make tins vegetable so popular. 
On botli sides of the Atlantic, specialists in Pea culture have 
been struggling with this problem, how to combine fine quality and 
productiveness with earliness. It must be conceded that, hitherto, 
ail these efforts have failed, inasmuch as we have only been able 
to offer for very early use the round types of “ Extra Early Peas.” 
These have a value peculiarly their own, but we must and always 
have admitted that the quality is far below what wo would wish. 
AVe feel confident that at last a variety has boon secured which 
combines ample earliness with all the good features of 
the later “ marrow ” varieties, and that in a wonder¬ 
ful degree. 
It is needless to say, wo are not intro¬ 
ducing this variety until after very thor¬ 
ough and exhaustive trials conducted 
in various latitudes for a number of 
years and under varied conditions, 
therefore we have no hesitancy in 
making the most extravagant 
claims for its merits. That these 
claims can be amply supported 
will be readily seen by a refer¬ 
ence to the opinions of expert 
gardeners (botli private and 
commercial) who tried this 
Pea in the spring of 1896. 
This variety is 2)4 feet in height; tiio vine is robust, and the 
foliage is large and'vigorous, of a light green color, closely re¬ 
sembling Telephone in general appearance, though dwarfer, and it 
is very much earlier. The pods, which are as large as Telephone, 
are produced singly and in great abundance, and are well filled 
with from six to eight peas of enormous size, but, ns wo have stated, 
its chief value lies in its earlinoss, and when we consider that a 
pea so large and as rich in flavor as any of the later wrinkled sorts 
can be had three days after Henderson’s First of All, its value 
can be readily seen. 
It is well known that among amateurs who grow peas for their 
own use exclusively, there are many who do not plant 
any but the extra early types, owing to the fact that 
our short spring and hot summers are notcon- 
ducive to the free growth of the later vario- 
... , x ties. It is to tliis class of growers that 
We are anxious for a Name -N we recommend this variety with confi¬ 
dence, that at last they can obtain 
Worthy of this 
Superb New Pea, “ 1897 ,” 
$200.00 
and will pay 
for it. 
early in the season, while climatic 
conditions are favorable, as good 
Peas as are possible to any cul¬ 
tivator, under whatever con¬ 
ditions, in this country or any 
other. PRICE, 20c. pkt., 
3 pkts. for 50c., 7 pkts. for 
$1.00; 35c. pt., 60c. 
pt., $1.00 qt. "If by mail, 
add 10c. per qt. extra. 
Those who have tried our 
“ 1897” PEA write: 
Mamaroneck, N. Y., June 24,1896. 
‘•I planted both varieties on the 
same day (April 16th); the Alaska 
matured in sixty days and the 
‘ 1897 ’ was only a few days later. 
I find in the ‘1897 ’ quantity and 
quality combined with earliness and 
excellent llavor. 1 strongly recom¬ 
mend this new Pea to all growers." 
It. H. Warren, 
Gardener to H. M. Flagler, Esq. 
Thousands of our patrons will, no doubt, remember that when we introduced, in 1891, 
our now tamous Ponderosa Tomato, we offered a cash prize for the best name suggested; 
the variety being sent out that season under the No. 400. This idea of securing a name 
by competition was entirely original with us, and created widespread interest. And 
because we are certain that “1897” will occupy among Garden Peas the same high 
position that Ponderosa attained and still holds in the Tomato family, has induced us 
to offer the liberal money prize of $2u0.00 for the name sent in this year that we shall 
consider the best and most appropriate for the variety. Purchasers of “ 1897 ” Pea, 
who desire to suggest a name, will kindly read the 
-CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION.- 
Every purchaser of the “ 1897 ” Pea is entitled to send in a name for each and 
Irvington, N. J., June 25,1896. 
“The sample of ‘ 1897 ’ Pea and Alaska 
you sent us for trial were picked together. The 
‘ 1897 ’ Pea was as early as the Alaska, sweet 
in quality, largo and good bearing." 
John Wills & Son, 
Market Gardeners, 
every package purchased. In every sealed package, large and small, will be found 
", coupon with blank space for name suggested, as well as for competitor’s 
name and address. The coupons properly lil led out maybe sent to us at any 
time throughout the season, butnot later than October 1st, 18'J7 ; after that 
date none will be received. In the event of two or more parties send 
lg in the same name, and that the one selected, then the prize 
money will be divided equally. The money to the victor, 
or victors, as the case may be, will be remitted during 
December, 1897. The name decided upon, as well as 
Those who have tried our 
“1897” PEA write: 
Clifton, N. J., Juno 22, 1890. 
“Alaska and ‘1897’ Pea were 
planted April 20th : first picking 
from Alaska June 10th, and from 
‘1897’ June 13th. I am greatly 
pleased with ‘1897’ for an early 
variety ; it has a very largo pod, and 
is very sweet.” 
Richard Bf.rry. 
the successful competitor or competitors, will bo 
announced in Catalogue for 1898. 
Rhinecliff, N. Y., June 15, 1896. 
Both were sown April 17th; Alaska was 
picked June 6th, your ‘1897,’ June 8th. 
I consider the ‘1897’ a first-class Pea, 
eight to ten large peas to a pod, uniform in 
ripening, very tender, good flavor, good cropper, 
and a very desirable addition to our list of early 
Peas.” T. Hauiuhon, 
Gardener to lion. Levi P. Morton. 
Hyde Park, N. Y., June 23, 1896. 
‘ I picked Alaska Pea on the 13th of June and your ‘ 1897 ’ on 
the 18th ; the latter is far superior to any early Pea I have ever grown ; it is far 
ahead of the Alaska, although not so early. It does not bear so many pods, but it 
more than makes up for it iu size; there are eight and nine fine large peas to a 
pod. It certainly is a very fine pea. and if you have it for sale next year I want at 
least a half bushel of seed.” James IIorrocks, Manager Crumwold Farms. 
Springfield, Mass., July 7,1896. 
“ While inspecting several of the finest estates at Lenox, Mass., I was much im¬ 
pressed with what I saw of your new early Pea, ‘ 1897.’ Would you kindly favor 
me with a small packet of seed? If they do with me as they did at Lenox, would 
like to illustrate them in Farm and Home.” F. H. Plumb, Agricultural Editor. 
Staatsburg, N Y., Juno 22, 1896. 
‘The first gathering was as follows: Alaska, Juno 4th, your 
‘1897,’ June 6th; American Wonder, June llth. ‘1897,’ although not 
such an abundant cropper as American Wonder, is much superior in every 
other respect; it is earlier, larger podded, and deep green when cooked. The 
flavor is delicious." Thomas Emerson. 
Manager Dinsmore Estate. 
Margaretville, N. Y., July 20, 1896. 
“Your new Pea ‘ 1897 ’ was about four days later than Alaska, hut ‘ 1897 ’ was 
so much larger and finer in quality that we would much prefer the ‘ 1897.’ Both 
lots were sown the same day and in rows adjoining.” 
W. F. Van Bknschoten. 
PRICE, 20c. pkt., 3 pkts. for 50c., 7 pkts. for $1.00 ; 35c. 
F ° r oMhe UlarS “SIR WALTER RALEIGH ” POTATO description of the marvelously early 
(see coLOReD plate on opposite page.) 
pt., 60c. pt., $1.00 qt. % b e ^.Vx d t^ 0c - 
B0VEE” POTATO 
see 
page 16. 
