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IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA. 45.

[image] WHITE'S NEW EXCELSIOR TOMATO.

WHITE'S NEW EXCELSIOR TOMATO.
Claimed to be the best purple tomato ever introduced and we have really been surprised to see what an exceptionally large crop it yielded. The fruit is of a dark glossy purplish red, very large, handsome, and nearly solid, which is a peculiarity, as most purple sorts, like the Acme, are very full of seed. It is also unlike other purple sorts in that the skin is tough, so that they will bear long shipments and rough handling exceedingly well. This point will be appreciated by all market gardeners. The fruit is larger than the average, smooth, and ripens evenly all over up to the stem. By our illustration the unusual depth of the fruit will be noticed, as they are not flat, like many other sorts. The vine is of dark green color, a vigorous grower, and sets the fruit in clusters, continuing to bear throughout the season. It is a fit companion for the Matchless, which we consider the best crimson variety. From our personal observation and comparison, we believe the New Excelsior will yield as large if not a larger crop than any variety now on the market, and fruit is of superior quality. We sent out about 50,000 packets of this new variety to our customers for trial last year and it received much praise everywhere. Per pkt. 10c, oz. 50c, 1/4 lb. $1.50.

EARLY EXPRESS CUCUMBER.
We are pleased to introduce this most remarkable and valuable new variety, which originated with Mr. C. P. Coy the well known seed grower and may be called the best novelty in this line which has been brought out for many years, especially for the private garden. It is by all odds the earliest variety in existence, producing fruit several days ahead of Early Siberian, Extra Early Russian and other early sorts, and nearly double the size. Quality is the very best, being free from any rank, strong flavor, and it is as fine a variety for slicing as any later sort. The plant is quite productive, bearing fruit which is quite uniform in size and shape. Color is a lively green, shading to nearly white at the blossom end as they grow older. Our cut shows compact growth of vine and while we have not tried forcing them, still we believe they will do well in the hotbed or greenhouse. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 20c, 1/4 lb. 60c.

The Excelsior Tomato sent us last spring is medium early, a strong grower, fruits are large, smooth, solid and of fine flavor.--F. B. Van Ornam, Cass Co., Iowa.

GIANT FRINGED WINTER ENDIVE.
Endive is one of our best and most wholesome salads for fall and winter use and some people call it winter lettuce. This fine new variety is the best of all. It is strong vigorous grower making a large white heart and the leaves are beautifully curled and of the best quality, very crisp and refreshing. Sow seed in April for early use or in June or July for winter. Transplant or thin out to a foot apart when plants are 2 or 3 inches high. When nearly full grown tie leaves together to blanch. Pkt. 5c, oz. 20c, 1/4 lb. 60c.

[image] EARLY EXPRESS CUCUMBER.

[image] NEW ICICLE RADISH.

EARLY ROUND PURPLE EGG PLANT.
The Earliest Variety in Existence.
There are many persons who do not attempt to grow Egg Plants, although they are a most desirable vegetable, for the reason that unless season is favorable they sometimes fail to mature the fruits. With this excellent variety however, there is no such danger, as it is fully a month earlier than any other sort. Fruit is exactly the same shape and color as the Improved New York Purple, but is somewhat smaller. It is fully equal in quality, however, and what it lacks in size is made up in productiveness. Try growing Egg Plants this year. You will like them. Pkt. 10c, oz. 35c.

Seeds purchased from you last spring were all right. I grew one egg plant from your seed which measured nine inches in length by eighteen and one-half inches in circumference which is the largest I ever saw here.--F. M. Hopkins, S. St. Joseph, Mo.

NEW ICICLE RADISH.
A magnificent novelty from Germany which receives its name from the almost transparent whiteness of the root which has no comparison among all cultivated radishes. The shape is well shown in our illustration. It is of the best flavor, very crisp and brittle. It vies in earliness with the earliest forcing sorts producing nice roots in 22 days from date of sowing. It is one of the best European novelties which has been introduced for several years and should become very popular. Pkt. 10c.

[image] EXTRA EARLY ROUND PURPLE EGG PLANT.

NEW ASTRO CUCUMBER.
A variety of the highest merit for gardeners, some claiming that they made more money from a crop of these grown early in hotbeds than from any other crop, as they yield a continual daily picking and sell quickly at $1.00 per doz. Fruit large, perfect shape, 8 to 12 inches long, or with outdoor culture 15 to 18 inches long. They are of the very best quality for slicing, as the flesh is white and crisp and they have very few seeds. Pkt. 10c, oz. $1.00.

[image] ASTRO Cucumber.