Burpee's Quarter Century Tomato

90 days, dwarf — The plants are a compact, dwarf-type with rugose leaves. The 1909 catalog states, "Owing to its compact, erect habit, the plants can be set quite closely together."^[1] They are a suitable choice for container gardening or can be planted about two feet apart in the ground. The fruit of 'Quarter Century' are oblate-shaped, red in color, smooth and crackless, weigh two to ten ounces each, and are solid with a nice balanced flavor.

It was introduced in 1896 by the horticultural editor of The Rural New Yorker,^[3] Dr. Walter Van Fleet of Monmouth County, New Jersey. It was supplied to growers, in trial packets, in 1900 by W. Atlee Burpee & Company. The following year, it was named 'Quarter Century' to celebrate the company's 25th anniversary. The variety appeared as a sport in the third generation from a cross between 'Lorillard', a bright scarlet fruit with ordinary type of foliage, and 'Dwarf Champion', a pinkish-red fruit of dwarf habit.^[2] Johnson & Stokes said, "It might be called an improved 'Dwarf Aristocrat'."^[3] Each packet contains approximately 20 seeds.