Burpee's Quarter Century 
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 fruits of 'Quarter Century' are oblate-shaped, red in color, smooth and crackless, weigh two to ten ounces 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.
