CUCUMBERS 



101 



but less prominently striped and with a greater number 

 of slightly more prominent tubercles. 



Fruit long and moderately plump, 10-12 x 2'_>-3 inches. 

 Shape much elongated, straight: base rounded, medial slightly 

 swollen and apex tapering; ridges and depressions rather marked. 

 Cross-section nearly circular at the base, and triangular at medial 

 and apex. Color medium to light green tinted with greenish white 

 at the apex: tip stripes narrow, rather obscure and extend one- 

 quarter or less the length of the fruit. Tubercles many, prominent. 

 Spines white. Flesh thick, greenish white in color. Seed mass 

 moderately small, solid. 



Fordhook Pickling. Refs. 57, 61, 75. Syns. Ford- 

 hook, New Fordhook Pickling. 



In 1897 W. Atlee Burpee introduced this pickling 

 scrt as an important acquisition to the cucumber pickle 

 industry. It originated with C. P. Coy of Nebraska, 

 who reported it to be the result of a cross between a 

 European sort and Cool and Crisp. After seven years 

 selection to attain uniformity it was sent to Burpee in 

 1896. 



As grown at Geneva it was one of the longest of the 

 pickling sorts, being as long as Jersey Pickling, slightly 

 more plump, and distinctly more constricted near the 

 basal end. The small pickles were more fusiform and 

 usually slightly darker green, particularly at the 

 base. 



Fruit medium long and medium plump, 7-8 x 2 1 . J -2 I ■> inches. 

 Shape fusiform, usually straight, tapering from medial to base and 

 apex, with a definite constriction or neck apparent. Cross-section 

 nearly circular at base, triangular at medial and apex. Color 

 medium green rather prominently marked with tip stripes one- 

 quarter the length of the fruit. Tubercles rather numerous and 

 prominent, particularly towards the base. Spines black. Flesh 

 moderately thin and greenish white to yellow in color. Seed mass 

 moderately large and solid. 



Pickles long fusiform, thickest at the medial and tapering 

 toward each end, finely ridged. Color medium to dark green, 

 tinted greenish white near apex. Tubercles many, prominent. 



Fushinari. 



This is a Japanese forcing variety. It is not 

 known when this variety was first introduced to the 

 American trade, although it has been distributed by the 

 Oriental Seed Co., San Francisco, California, at least 

 since 1927. 



The fruits are similar in some respects to those of 

 China Long, although those of the latter are considerably 

 longer, somewhat more angular in cross-section and 

 slightly darker green in color. Although prominent 

 tubercles are common to both varieties, the color of the 

 spines differ, those of Fushinari being black. 



Vines very vigorous, profusely branched with terminal shoots 

 extended nearly upright from the ground. Leaves very large, 

 distinctly wrinkled and borne on long petioles. 



Fruit medium long and slender, 8-9 x 1 ) 2-l 3 4 inches. Shape 

 oblong, straight; base distinctly rounded, medial even, apex moder- 

 ately rounded to very slightly tapering. Cross-section circular 

 at the base, moderately triangular at the apex and medial. Color 

 light green, tinted yellowish green at tip and near medial; marked 

 with narrow, rather obscure tip stripes which extend one-third the 

 length of the fruit. Tubercles few, large and prominent. Spines 

 black. Flesh medium thick, distinctly greenish white in color. 

 Seed mass medium large, with a distinct triangular cavity at 

 medial. 



Geneva. Refs. 22, 23. 



Several important American varieties of forcing 

 cucumbers were obtained by crossing the English forcing 

 types on the American garden sorts. Such well-known 

 varieties as Davis Perfect, Deltus, Rawson Hot House 

 and Abundance owe their existence to such a procedure. 

 Growers undoubtedly used the English types more 

 because of their great length and smoothness of skin, 

 than for their tendency to produce parthenocarpic 

 fruits. 



At least two projects were initiated by Experiment 

 Station workers to utilize the parthenocarpic character 

 (the ability to produce fruits without fertilization) of 

 the English cucumber. One of these was started by 

 Richard Wellington in 1916 at the Minnesota Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station when he crossed Arlington 

 White Spine with Rockford Market. After several years 

 of selection, during which time there were many inter- 

 ruptions, the line now known as Geneva was intro- 

 duced in 1930 from the New York (Geneva) State 

 Experiment Station. 



The fruits are borne in great profusion and differ 

 from Arlington White Spine in being distinctly more 

 constricted or " necked " at the base. 



Fruit long and medium plump, 10-1 2x2' £-2 } ■• inches. Shape 

 cylindrical, straight and symmetrical; base distinctly and abruptly 

 tapered, almost constricted, medial very slightly swollen but often 

 practically even; apex rounded. Cross-section distinctly circular in 

 all portions. Color rather light grayish green over the entire surface, 

 very sparsely and obscurely striped at the tip for one-quarter to 

 one-third the length of the fruit. Tubercles very few, obscure 

 with skin surface practically smooth. Spines white, obscure. 

 Flesh very thick, fine, crisp, white in color. Seed mass very small 

 and distinctly solid, containing very few to no seeds. 



Giant Pera. Refs. 3, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, 48, 49, 



56, 62, 63, 64, 75, 81, 82. Syns. Grand Pera, 

 Long Giant Pera, Long Green Giant Pera, Mam- 

 moth Giant Pera, New Giant Pera, Pera. 



To Dr. Harris of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, goes 

 the credit of bringing to this country this unusual variety 

 from Turkey. It came to the attention of W. Atlee 

 Burpee of Philadelphia who, in 1886, introduced it to his 

 trade. The firm of Johnson and Stokes of the same city 

 also played an important part in the distribution of this 

 variety having listed it at least as early as 1892. 



The fruits are about the same length and plump- 

 ness of Long Green Turkey, but differ from that variety 

 in being fuller at the apex, distinctly more constricted 

 at the base and much smoother-skinned. The flesh is 

 similar in color and decidedly thicker than that of 

 many American sorts such as Longfellow, Evergreen 

 White Spine and Early Fortune. 



Fruit very long and moderately plump, 12-15 x 2';j-3 inches. 

 Shape nearly cylindrical but often enlarged or swollen near the apex; 

 straight; base tapered, often constricted, and apex abruptly tapered 

 to rounded. Cross-section circular at all portions. Color light 

 green with tip stripes at the apex which are narrow, rather promi- 

 nent and extend one-quarter the length of the fruit. Tubercles 

 few and very obscure, leaving skin very smooth. Spines black. 

 Flesh is very thick, fine and firm, greenish white in color. Seed 

 mass small and solid. 



