WHITS; PEARL CUCUMBER. 



I quote as follows from a brother seedsman; 



" Our crops of this very distinct and most valu- 

 able new cucumber have been the admiration and 

 wonder of seedsmen and market gardeners. One 

 grower for market, from Boston, Mass., said : ' It is 

 the cucumber I have been looking for all my life, 

 but never expected to see. I never ate a finer cu- 

 cumber.' Another, a seedsman, with an eye to its 

 money value, remarked, 'That cucumber ought to 

 make a man's fortune.' In habit of growth it 

 is entirely distinct, setting the cucumbers very 

 close around the stem, and maturing these early, 

 then afterward the vines continue to run and bear 

 freely throughout the season. Tlie illustration 

 adjoining is not a fancy sketch, but wns 

 drawn from nature, and the fourteen cu- 

 cumbers shown in this sketch were all borne 

 within twelve inches of the centre of the hill, 

 and only one vine in the hill. To show this re- 

 markable growth the artist has removed the cen- 

 tral leaves, and it will be noticed that the cucum- 

 bers grow so thickly together that they actually lie 

 piled one upon the other. The cucumbers grow 

 remarkably uniform, the specimen illustrated 

 being about two-thirds the natural size ; the skin is 

 very smooth and entirely free from spines. In 

 color they are a beautiful pearly white 5 even 

 the young fruits are of a very light color, nearly 

 as pure white as when ready for use. 



"They are solid, tender and crisp in taste, of 

 splendid quality for slicing ; for pickling in bottles 

 the pure white little fruits are very attractive, 

 while their solid, crisp flesh is very appetizing. 

 The vines are quite vigorous in growth and im- 

 mensely productive. They are a little earlier 

 than the White Spine, and their distinct, unique 

 character, superior quality and productiveness can- 

 not fail tomakeWHITEPEARLCCCCMBER 

 a popular favorite." Pkt., 10c; oz., 20c; l4^-< o0c - 



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TWO OF THE BEST THINGS OF THE YEAR. YOU NEED THEfl BOTH. 



SHROPSHIRE HERO PEAS. 



See Illustration on Second Cover Page. 



No late Pea has pleased me so much in years as the Shropshire Hero. In 

 my own trial grounds for two years past it has equalled and surpassed any other 

 late sort, and I have tried 150 to 200 different varieties. 



The following letter, now before me.'just received from one of the largest 

 and most successful Pea growers in Northern New York, describes Shropshire 

 Hero so thoroughly that it is certainly worthy cf publication. It is as follows : 



" Shropshire Hero are very prolific and very trueto their type. Not inclined 

 to degenerate and sport as most of the other good varieties of Peas. The quality 

 is exceptionally good, the pods large and well filled and easily opened, which is 

 not the case with Premium Gem and American Wonders, where the pods hug 

 the Peas so close that it is a difficult process to shell them. We are confident 

 this Pea is likely to supersede Pride of the Market, Stratagem, and will be very 

 likely to encroach somewhat upon the Telephone trade. In earliness it is about 

 like Pride of the Market, Stratagem, Champion of England, Abundance, 

 Everbearing, Forty Fold and Yorkshire Heroes. It has been much more 

 prolific with us than White Marrowfat and as soon as there are enough to 

 supply \he trade, think they are likely to take the place of White Marrowfats 

 in the canner's trade." 



It would be difficult to praise any one variety in stronger terms, but there 

 is no question but that Shropshire Hero is bound to take the place of many 

 sorts now favorably known to the American market and home gardener, and to 

 remain at the top of the ladder for many years to come. This grand Pea is a 

 recent introduction of that celebrated specialist, Henry Eckford, and is far 

 ahead of anything he has introduced heretofore, although he is known as one 

 of the greatest Pea specialists the world over. Shropshire Hero grows about 

 ZJ4 feet, is a second early, and produces wonderfully well filled, long, handsome 

 pods in great abundance. Peas at the same time are of unusually large size 

 and of delicious flavor. I have well illustrated this variety on my second 

 cover page this year, and it is certainly worthy of this special prominence. 

 31 y Earliest of All Pea, and Shropshire Hero are certainly worth a fortune to 

 every professional market gardener. As Shropshire Hero is of such recent 

 introduction, supply is very limited, consequently, if wanted in quantites, I 

 certainiy would advise early orders. 



Packet, 15 cents ; pint, 35 cents ; quart, 60 cents, 2 quarts, $1.00. 



NEW COLUriBUS HUSK J1ELON. 



It is certainly very fortunate that in this Columbian year I am able to offer 

 my friends such an acquisition as this new Columbus Musk Melon. To be 

 sure I first introduced it in last year's seed book, and although almost ten 

 thousand of my customers grew it to their entire satisfaction.it can still be 

 considered a novelty. The illustration nerewitn gives an excellent idea of its 

 shape, which is a perfect nutmeg. The flesn is wonderfully sweet and 

 melting, and of a spicy flavor ; skin is finely netted, and as a shipping Melon, 

 Columbus is undoubtedly unsurpassed, one customer in California reporting 

 that it stood the heat better than any other variety, although at one time the 

 thermometer was 109 in the shade, and every other Melon was completely 

 cooked and spoiled except Columbus. Snipped on journeys taking from 6 to 7 

 days, they have arrived in perfect condition and were highly flavored, even 

 after thisexperience ; when kept for a week or ten days, have still remained 

 sweet and luscioas. Finally, Columbus, combining as it does, superior flavor, 

 fine keeping and shipping qualities, together with large size and desirable 

 shape, certainly recommends itself to every Melon grower in America. Ripens 



shortly after the Jenny Lind. My only regret is that owing to a limited supply 

 of seed, (in consequence of a very dry spell my crop was almost a failure), I 

 can still offer it only in small quantities. 



Packet, 10 cents ; ounce, 25 cents. 



Jos. C. Allison, Washington, Ind. : " I am delighted with the Columbus Musk 

 Melon. The season here has been very unfavorable, yet I succeeded in raising 

 some verv good melons. The Columbus is my choice of some half-dozen varieties. 

 I believe Giant Pascal Celery will prove an excellent variety for this climate. I 

 am trying several varieties in what is called New Celery Culture. TheGiant Pascal 

 leads in thrifty growth." 



Ernest Bowen, North Yakima, Wash.: "The Columbus Musk Melon is extra 

 choice. Every one who tasted them said they were unequaled in size and flavor." 



W. W. Pressey, Catlin, Colo. : " Your Columbus Musk Melon is remarkably fine; 

 every one is good and they are all of the same style and appearance." 



Alex. Near, Eau Gallie.Fla.: "Columbus Musk Melon is a most superior melon, 

 and of very good flavor." , 



