VEGETABLE SEEDS 



Beckert's Seed Store, 101 and 103 Federal St., N. S., Pittsburgh, Pa. 



THE CHOICEST CUCUMBERS 



Every garden, no matter how small, should have its own pickle patch. Cucumber vines are easily restricted to small space where they will 

 yield surprising quantities of fruits, providing a few easily followed suggestions are kept in mind. 



Cucumbers arc warmth-loving plants, and the seeds should not be planted until the weather has become thoroughly warm and settled. 

 They prefer a light, mellow soil, well enriched, in hills. The Cucumber plants have a very compact root system and straight tap-roots that 

 go right down into the hills, hence any fertilizer scattered about the top is wasted. 



Sow any time after Decoration Day, in hills about 3 feet apart each way, scattering about 8 to 10 seeds to a hill, and covering them 

 lightly. As soon as seedlings appear, be on the lookout for the little striped beetle which is a ravenous feeder and will destroy a Cucumber 

 patch within a week if not combated. Slug-Shot is perhaps the most popular remedy to sprinkle on the seedling plants. When these form the 

 third pair of leaves, the danger of insect pests is generally past, and the plants should be reduced to three of the strongest per hill. From the 

 time that the vines begin to run, to the time you begin gathering the Cucumbers, the patch should be disturbed as little as [jossible. 



For a succession, seeds of pickling varieties may be sown at intervals of two weeks up to middle of July. I he large-growing varieties, 

 like Davis Perfect and Fordhook Famous, do best (luring; I lie early spring and cool fall months. If fruits are gathered regularly and before 

 they turn yellow, the vines will continue to 1m ir Imumj i long period. One ounce of seed will plant about 100 hills. 



WHITE SPINE TYPE 



In this class we find the most popular varieties 

 since they are suitable for both slicing and growing 

 pickles. The sorts offered below vary largely in 

 season of bearing and size of fruit. 



EARLIEST OF ALL. The earliest White Spine 

 Cucumber and very ijrolific. The fruits grow 7 

 inches long, very full and uniform in shape, with 

 blunt ends and good deep green color, and arc 

 produced in profusion at least a week ahead of 

 any of the other White Spine varieties. Pkt. 

 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., V4lb. 50 cts., lb. $1.50. 

 ARLINGTON, or Improved White Spine. Pro- 

 lific and early; fruits smooth, about 7 inches long, 

 rounded at both ends and of a bright deep green 

 color; used for forcing, and for outdoor culture. 

 Pkt. 10c. , oz. 15c., Viib. 50c., lb. $1.50. 

 EARLY FORTUNE. Fruit very dark green, uni- 

 formly cylindrical in shape, and about 9 inches 

 long. Flesh thick, fine-grained, crisp, and of fine 

 quality. Extra-early, disease-resistant and extremely productive. 

 Retains its color for a long time; a good shipper and very profitable 

 market variety. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., Vi'b. 50 cts., lb. $1.50. 

 DAVIS PERFECT. Fruit long and slim, tapering at both ends; color 

 rich, dark glossy green, retaining this color until nearly ripe; flesh is 

 tender, crisp, and of fine flavor; few seeds. Very early and a splendid 

 forcing variety. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 20 cts., V4lb. 60 cts., lb. $1.75. 

 HENDERSON'S PERFECTED WHITE SPINE. A heavy-bearing 

 main-crop sort, with round thick square-ended fruits, 8 inches long. 

 Good dark color. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 20 cts., V4lb. 55 cts., lb. $1.75. 

 EIXTRA-LONG, or Evergreen White Spine. Smooth, dark green 

 cylindrical fruits, attaining a length of 10 to 12 inches. Midseason. 

 A most attractive variety and one af the best for slicing. Pkt. 10 cts., 

 oz. 20 cts., V4lb. 55 cts., lb. $1.75. 

 FORDHOOK FAMOUS. The largest of the White Spine family. 

 Fruits 14 inches long, smooth, and dark green; very productive. 

 Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 20 cts., i/4lb. 60 cts., lb. $2.00, 

 FORCING WHITE SPINE. A select strain particularly adapted for 

 culture under glass. Pkt. 25 cts., Vjoz. 75 cts., oz. $1.35, V4lb. $4.50. 



Davis Perfect Cucumbers 



BLACK SPINE CUCUMBERS 



IMPROVED LONG GREEN. Leading long sort, and excellent 

 lor pickles. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., V4lb. 50 cts., lb. $1.50. 



JAPANESE CLIMBING. Fruits almost straight, large and from 

 12 to 16 in. long; skin dark green; flesh thick. A profitable 

 variety as it can be trained on walls or trellises. Pkt. 10 cts., 

 oz. 20 cts., i/4lb. 55 cts., lb. $2.00. 



PICKLING VARIETIES 



More compact in habit of growth than the White Spine type, 

 forming more leaf joints and bearing fruits of a shorter or more 

 blocky shape. The plants are exceedingly free-fiowering and, 

 there being plenty of pollen available, the young fruits are set 

 quite freely. Where the object is an abundance of small pickles, 

 the varieties listed below deserve your preference. Where Cu- 

 cumbers are wanted for slicing and i>ickling, any of the White 

 Spines described opposite should be grown. 



EARLY GREEN PROLIFIC, or Boston Pickling. The name 

 well describes this variety. It is free bearing and the fruits are 

 of very symmetrical shape at all stages. Pkt. 10c. , oz. 15c., 

 V4lb. 45 cts., lb. $1.25. 



SNOW'S PERFECTION PICKLE. The best-formed and pro- 

 ductive pickling sort; early, small square-ended and dark green. 

 Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., Vilb. 45 cts., lb. $1.25. 



EVERBEARING. One of the best producers of large quantities 

 of handsome pickles. If picked regularlv, vines' will bear a long 

 time. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., '/ilb. 50 cts., lb. $1.50. 



JERSEY PICKLING. Wonderfully productive; deep green; 

 small and uniform in size. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., VAh. 

 45 cts., lb. $1.25. 



WEST INDIA GHERKIN. Small, rough, prickly fruits, used 

 for pickling. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 20 cts., l^lb. 75 cts., lb. $2.00. 



ENGLISH FRAME CUCUMBERS 



These varieties are grown in hotbeds or houses where the 

 temperature does not fall below 65 degrees at night. The fruits 

 are long, and handsome, frequently growing 20 to 30 inches long. 



Improved Telegraph Worthing Favorite 



Lockie's Perfection 



Each, per pkt. of 10 seeds, 30 cts.; pkt. of 25 seeds, 60 cts.; 

 100 seeds. $2.00 



Snow's Perfection Pickle 



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