40 



WM. C. BECKERT, ALLEGHENY, PA. 



DANDELION. (Lowenzahn.) 



The dandelion resembles endive, and affords one of the 

 earliest, as well as one of the most healthful of spring 

 greens. The roots, after being dried, constitute an article 

 of considerable value, being extensively used as a substitute 

 for coffee. Sow as early as the weather will permit, in 

 good, well enriched soil, in rows twelve inches apart, cover- 

 ing seed one-foujth of an inch deep, and firming the soil 

 well over them. Thin to two or three inches apart in the 

 rows, by so doing the roots will be larger and a great 

 amount of time will be saved the next spring in trimming 

 or gathering the crop. One pound per acre is sufficient. 



J^P^" One ounce will sow 100 feet of drill. 



French, Thick-Leaved. Pkt. 30 cts.; oz. 40 cts. ; % lb. 

 $1.50. 



EGG-PLANT. (Eierpflanze.) 



Sow the seed in hot-beds early in March. When three 

 inches high pof the young plants, using small pots, and 

 plunge them in the same bed, so that the plants may become 

 stocky. They can be planted out from the pots when the 

 season becomes sufficiently warm in May or June, or they 

 can be transplanted into a second bed to make them strong 

 until the weather is warm enough to transplant, about three 

 feet apart each wa3', in thoroughly worked and well-en- 

 riched soil. Draw the earth up to their stems when about 

 a foot high. Egg-plant seed will not vegetate freely with- 

 out a strong uniform heat, and if the plants get the least 

 chilled in the earlier stages of growth they seldom recover. 

 Therefore repeated sowing is sometimes necessary. Care 

 should be observed in cutting the fruit so as not to disturb 

 the plants. 



One ounce will produce 1,000 plants. 



New York Improved. The leading variety grown by 

 market men ; large in size and deep purple in color, smooth 

 and free of thorns ; flesh white and of excellent quality' ; 

 very prolific. Pkt. 10 cts. ; oz. 60 cts. 



Egg PI 



Black Pekin. Nearly round in shape. Fruit large in 

 size. Glossy and sniDoth, and jet black In color. Flesh 

 white, fine grained and delicate in flavor. It is very prolific, 

 of early maturity, and in every way a fine variety. Pkt. 10 

 cts.; oz. 60 cts. 



ENDIVE. (Endivien.) 



A splendid salad for fall or winter use. For an early 

 crop sow in April, in drills fifteen inches apart, and later oia 

 thin out to twelve inches in the rows. It can also be sown 

 in beds and transplanted to the above distance after attain- 

 ing sufficient size. The main sewings are made in June 

 and July, as it is used principally during the fall and early 



Curled Endi- 



winter months. Ordinary good soil and cultivation is all it 

 requires. After it has attained the right size it is blanched 

 in the following manner : Gather up the leaves and tie 

 them up by their tips in a conical form with bass matting or 

 moistened straw, thereby excluding the light and air from 

 their inner leaves, %vhich then blanch to a beautiful yellow- 

 ish white color. This process takes from three to five weeks, 

 according to the temperature, bleaching fastest in warm 

 weather. Another method is to lay clean boards right over 

 the plants, which exclude the air and light. 



g^^T'One ounce will sow 100 feet of drill. 



Green 

 Curled. The 

 variety 

 mostly culti- 

 vated: leaves 

 dark green, 

 broad and 

 curly, tender 

 and crisp in 

 q u a 1 1 t y ; 

 so m e w h a t 

 earlier than 

 other varie- 

 ties. Pkt. 5 

 cts.; oz. 20c.: 

 }4 lb. GOc. 



Moss Curl- 

 ed. A beau- 

 tif u 1 curled 

 variety 

 somewhat 

 resembl i n g 

 moss; dark 

 green in col- 

 or, qu al 1 1 V 

 fine. Pkt. 5 

 cts. ; oz. -i.oc. ; 3i 'b. 75 cts. 



White Curled. Leaves whitish green and tender; this 

 and the preceding variety are not as hardy as the broad 

 sorts. Pkt. 5 cts.; oz. 25 cts.; 34 'b. 75 cts. 



Broad Leaved Batavian. A broad leaved and coarse 

 looking variety ; not as easily bleached as any of the fore- 

 going, but is more hardy and better in quality. Pkt. 5 cts.; 

 oz. 20 cts.; i£ lb. 60 cts. 



KOHL RABI. (KohlRabi.) 



A vegetable intermediate between 

 the cabbage and turnip, and is a favor- 

 ite in Europe, especially on the con- 

 tinent, where it is extensively grown 

 for feeding cows, as it imparts no un- 

 pleasant taste to the milk. It is stead- 

 ily gaining favor in this country. Sow 

 in April, if the weather is favorable, 

 in rows eighteen inches apart, and 

 thin out or transplant in rows twelve 

 inches apart for the White Giant, and 

 eight inches for the Early Vienna va- 

 rieties, as they are considered difficult 

 to transplant. When three or four 

 inches in diameter they are fit to eat. 

 For late use sow in June and Jul}-. 

 E^One ounce produces 3,000 plants. 



Early White Vienna. Light green in color; very rapid 

 in growth and early in maturity; symmetrical in form and 

 fine in texture; flesh white and tender; foliage very small; 

 the best and earliest market sort. Pkt. 5 cts.; oz. 30 cts. 



Early Purple Vienna. Differing from the above in color, 

 being a bluish purple, and on this account not so desirable; in 

 quality it is, however, superior. Pkt. 5 cts.; oz. 30 cts. 



White Giant. A large growing late variety, suitable for 

 a fall crop; bulbs, stems and foliage are far larger than the 

 preceding sorts ; quality very good. Pkt. 5 cts.; oz. 25 cts. 



Kohl Rabi. 



