CUCUMBERS 



103 



prominent. Spines black. Flesh thick, firm, white in color. 

 Seed mass moderately small, solid. 



Irish Queen. Syn. New England. 



Irish Queen introduced in 1916 by S. M. Isbell 8b 

 Co., Jackson, Michigan, was quite distinct in that the 

 fruits were smooth and quite free from spines. In 

 many respects the variety resembled Emerald, a variety 

 which had been introduced about twenty years earlier. 

 It differed from that variety in being more grayish green 

 in color, in having flesh more greenish white in color, 

 and in having a less solid seed mass. 



Fruit moderately short and moderately plump, 6-7 J _> x 2 ' _.-2 3 4 

 inches. Shape nearly cylindrical, straight; base slightly swollen 

 and rounded; apex rounded. Cross-section circular at the base, 

 very nearly circular at medial and apex. Surface very smooth. 

 Tubercles absent. Skin color medium to light grayish green, 

 uniformly distributed over the surface; tip stripes very obscure, 

 possibly one-half inch long. Spines white. Flesh thick, greenish 

 white in color. Seed mass small, with triangular cavity present at 

 center. 



Japanese Climbing. Refs. 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 21, 34, 57, 



61, 63, 64, 66, 75. Syns. Japan Climbing, Japan 

 Dark Green, Japanese, Japanese Climbing Green, 

 New Japanese Climbing. 

 The seed of this variety came originally from Japan 

 and was listed by Thorburn in 1892, by Gregory and 

 by Rawson in 1894. The interesting character as noted 

 by Gregory was that the runners kept their tips raised 

 from the ground like squash vines. Rawson stated that 

 the vines were of vigorous growth and that they developed 

 strong grasping tendrils, which enabled them to climb 

 trellises, wire netting, brush or any other suitable sup- 

 port. The variety is listed today as a distinct climbing 

 sort for covering fences or trellises. 



The fruits are 2-3 inches shorter than Davis Perfect, 

 more nearly cylindrical and considerably lighter green 

 in color. They are similar in some respects to China 

 Long, but are much shorter and more circular in 

 cross-section. 



Fruit medium long and moderately slender, 7-8 x 2-2 1 ■> inches. 

 Shape nearly cylindrical, straight, rounded at the base and apex, 

 slightly swollen at the media!. Cross-section circular at base, nearly 

 circular at medial and apex. Surface rather uneven and finely 

 ridged. Tubercles few, but rather large and prominent. Color 

 medium to moderately light green, profusely speckled with yellowish 

 green over much of the surface; tip stripes narrow, not very promi- 

 nent, and extend about one-quarter the length of the fruit. Spines 

 black. Flesh moderately thin, very tender and crisp, slightly tart, 

 distinctly greenish white in color. Seed mass moderately large 

 and solid. 



Mature fruits deep russet in color, often partially covered with 

 a slight netting. 



Jersey Pickling. Refs. 3, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 57, 61, 75. 



Syns. Earty Long Pickling, Extra Long Green 



Pickling, Improved Jersey Pickle, Improved Long 



Green Pickling, Jersey Extra Early Prolific Pickle, 



Jersey Pickle, Jersey Pride, Perfected Jersey 



Pickle, Perfected Pickle. 



During the last quarter of the nineteenth century 



the region in Burlington County, New Jersey, along 



the Delaware River was the leading pickle raising 



section of the country. Both the Long Green and the 



Short Green varieties were grown and many local 

 strains were developed. One of these was intermedi- 

 ate between Long Green and Short Green and became 

 known as Jersey Pickle. It resembled Early Cluster 

 in its external characters, but the fruit was rather 

 more cylindrical and somewhat later in maturing. 

 It was said to " green " better than any other variety. 

 Jersey Pickle is used today for dill and ripe, sweet 

 chunk pickles, for it is generally considered too slender 

 and long for the smaller sizes. 



Fruit medium long and moderately slender, 7-8 x 2-2 >.,' inches. 

 Shape somewhat mildly fusiform, straight, tapered gently from 

 medial towards base and apex, base slightly constricted; ridges 

 obscure. Cross-section circular at base and nearly circular at 

 medial and apex. Tubercles few, rather distinct. Color medium 

 green, tinted yellowish white at apex; tip stripes rather narrow, 

 rather obscure and extend about one-quarter length of fruit. Spines 

 black. Flesh moderately thick, white. 



Pickles long oval, rounded at the base, tapering towards the 

 tip, long in proportion to thickness; rather distinctly ridged; medium 

 green in color. 



Khiva. Refs. 3, 6, 16, 18, 19, 58, 75, 79. Syns. Brown 

 Netted, Early Netted Russian, Khiva Netted, 

 Long Netted Russian, Netted Russian, Russian 

 Netted Cluster. 

 The catalog of B. K. Bliss & Sons, New York, for 

 1880 stated that the introduction of the Khiva-Netted 

 cucumber into Europe resulted from the Russian expedi- 

 tion into Khiva. The exact date of its introduction 

 to this continent is unknown, but inasmuch as it was 

 not described by Burr in 1863, it is assumed that it 

 was brought in after that time. The description of 

 Russian Netted given by Gregory in his catalog for 

 1875 is so similar to that of Khiva that the two are 

 considered identical. The Russian Netted was native 

 to the Ukraine. This variety was early and hardy, 

 and for this reason was favorably considered during 

 the next twenty years. The fruits were 1-1 J ■> inches 

 longer than those of Early Russian, much the same 

 shape, considerably darker green in color, and had a 

 more distinct netted appearance at full maturity. 



Fruit short and moderately plump, 4-5 x 2 ] £-3 inches. Shape 

 short oval, straight, symmetrical; base and apex rounded, medial 

 even to slightly swollen. Cross-section circular at base; moderately 

 triangular at medial and apex. Color dark green at base, gradually 

 blending to greenish white at apex; tip stripes prominent. Tubercles 

 moderately few, slightly prominent. Spines black. Flesh thin, 

 greenish white. Seed mass large. Mature fruits dark russet 

 brown in color; skin tough and hard, covered with light, finely inter- 

 laced network of shallow cracks. 



Kirby. Refs. 22, 29, 57. Syns. Black Diamond, D. 8b 

 B. Special, Dark Green, Dark Green Sheer, 

 Earliest Black Diamond, Green Pack, Kirby's 

 Stays Green, Stay Green, Sunny South. 

 The Kirby was introduced about 1920 by I. N. 

 Simon 8b Son of Philadelphia. The name came from its 

 originator, Norval E. Kirby, at that time associated with 

 Mr. Simon. The name was registered through the United 

 States Patent Office. During the fifteen years it has been 

 offered it has grown in popularity and is believed to be un- 

 excelled in its class for earliness, color and heavy yielding. 

 The fruits are 1-2 inches shorter than Davis Perfect, 



