Interesting old Catalogue

JerryL · February 12, 2011

I was lucky enough to find a 1902 Mills Seed Catalogue at an antique show last week. Seems Mr. F.B. Mills started as a one man band in 1887 and grew to be a pretty good sized operation by 1902. From what I read he grew most, if not all of his seed himself. The catalogue has a good listing of vegetable & flower seed along with bulbs, shrubs and vines.

But of course the tomatoes are what caught my eye.

For those with eyes like mine the following is part of the description.
Mr. A.A. Halladay, who was made a specialty of growing tomatoes for many years and who originated that most excellent tomato, the “New Imperial” is also the originator of this new variety—the Klondike and this is what he says of it: “For the past five or six years I have been at work perfecting this new tomato. It is entirely distinct from all others. The plants are stalky; leaves are what are known as “Solid” or ‘Potato Leaf.” Very large, (the leaves are the largest I ever saw on a tomato) thick and leathery. etc...

In addition to the Klondike, Mr. Mills also offered the following tomatoes:

Mill’s Challenge
New Imperial
Mill’s Earliest Tomato in the World
New Peach
Livingston’s Perfection
The Matchless
New Long Keeper
Ponderosa
Livingston’s Beauty
Golden Queen
New Zealand Fig
Mikado or Turner’s Hybrid
Atlantic Prize
Dwarf Champion
Improved Extra Early Tree
Mammoth Prize

**Dukerdawg** · February 12, 2011

Nice find Jerry. Very cool to look through those old catalogues and see names of tomatoes that have withstood the test of time.

Is it spring yet??

dokutaaguriin · February 12, 2011

Is Klondike still around today?

Jeff

**Lee** · February 12, 2011

Very cool Jerry! Nice find, and thanks for sharing!

Lee

shlacm · February 12, 2011

I swear I saw that name: "Klondike" somewhere VERY recently... like, within the past 48 hours!!! But WHERE?!?!?!?!

dustdevil · February 12, 2011

"...leaves are what are known as "Solid" or "Potato Leaf."

Potato leaf was also known as solid leaf back in 1902...learned something old

today.

shlacm · February 12, 2011

OH OH!!! eBay!!! The seed packet shown was in Russian though... so, perhaps a long-shot that they're the same.

February 12, 2011	#2
Dukerdawg Growing for Market Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 861	Nice find Jerry. Very cool to look through those old catalogues and see names of tomatoes that have withstood the test of time. Is it spring yet?? __________________ May I aspire to live my life so that I may be the man my dog thinks I am.

February 12, 2011	#4
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Very cool Jerry! Nice find, and thanks for sharing! Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

February 12, 2011	#3
dokutaaguriin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Z3a Posts: 905	Is Klondike still around today? Jeff

February 12, 2011	#5
shlacm Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central VA Posts: 436	I swear I saw that name: "Klondike" somewhere VERY recently... like, within the past 48 hours!!! But WHERE?!?!?!?!

February 12, 2011	#6
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	"...leaves are what are known as "Solid" or "Potato Leaf." Potato leaf was also known as solid leaf back in 1902...learned something old today.