POPULAR VARIETIES OF GARDEN VEGETABLES. 



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sane one the latter, — at least so it seems to us. A few remarks about varieties 

 is all that will be necessary. The earliest good sweet corn we are acquainted 

 with is the Minnesota (fig 1.) ; following in about ten or twelve days, is 

 Russell's Prolific (tig. 2) ; Moore's Early Concord (fig. 3) is in eating a week or 

 so after Russell's, and Crosby's Early (fig. 4) is in eating about the same time, 

 perhaps a day or two earlier. It is very thick, twelve or sixteen rowed. Stow- 

 ell's Evergreen (fig 5) is a magnificent late variety, keeping in eating until 

 frost, almost. There are many varieties of parching corn : one of them is 

 shown in fig. G, called the White Parching. 



CUCUMBERS. 



The hardiest varieties — in fact, all the American or common sorts — will pro- 

 duce a medium and late crop, if the seed is sown in the open ground in well 



prepared hills, as soon as the soil becomes suffi- 

 ciently warm. In this latitude it is useless to 

 plant in the open ground until nearly the first of 

 June. Make rich hills of well rotted manure, 

 two feet in diameter — a large shovelful of manure, 

 at least, to each hill — and plant a dozen or more 

 seeds, covering half an inch deep. When all dan- 

 ger from insects is over, pull up all but three or 

 tour of the strongest plants. The middle of June 

 is early enough to plant for pickling. Make the 

 hills about six feet apart. For early cucumbers, 

 the hot-bed is necessary; but the simplest and 

 surest way to produce a tolerably early crop of the 

 best kinds is, where it is designed to place a hill, 

 dig a hole about eighteen inches deep and three feet across; into this put a 

 barrow of fresh manure, and cover with a small box-like frame, on the top 

 of which place a couple of lights of glass. When the plants grow, keep 

 the earth drawn to the stems. Water, and give air as needed ; and if the 

 sun appears too strong, give the glass a coat of whitewash. By the time the 

 plants fill the frame, it will be warm enough to let them out, and the box can bo 

 removed ; but if it should continue cold, raise the i ^^as^ b 



box by setting a block under each corner, and let 

 the plants run under. The Fourth of July is the 

 time we always remove the boxes or frames. Al- 

 ways pick the fruit as soon as large enough, as al- 

 lowing any to remain to ripen injures the fruiting 

 of the vine. One pound of seed is sufficient for 

 an acre. There are not very many varieties of 

 hardy cucumbers. Fig. 1 is Improved Long 

 G-reen, the largest of American sorts, and one of 

 the best; fig. 3, Early Frame, a good variety for 

 table, and for pickling when small ; fig. 3, Early 

 White Spine, an excellent sort for table, a great 

 favorite, and forces well ; fig. 4, Early Russian, small, very productive, and the 

 earliest of all; fig. 5, Early Green Cluster, next in earliness to the Russian, 

 generally grows in pairs, quite productive and esteemed for pickles. There are 

 very many foreign varieties of very great size and beauty, and of excellent 

 quality, and their general appearance is shown in the annexed engraving. 

 They range in length from eighteen inches to more than two feet, and, when 



