32 



D. M FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH. 



Cucumber 



This is one of the 

 vegetables that can 

 be grown to perfec- 

 tion by any one wlio 

 can control a few 

 square yards of soil 

 that is fully exposed to the sun. The fruit is so much 

 better when gathered fresh from the vines than it is 

 in the more or less wilted condition in which it is 

 found on the market, that every family should be 

 supplied from its own garden. 



CULTURE— In order to obtain the largest yield of cu- 

 cumbers, the soil should be well enriched with weU rot- 

 ted manure, but an abundance of good fruit can be raised 

 on any rich garden soil. Plant the seed not over an inch 

 deep in hills four to six feet apart each way, dropping 

 fifteen to twenty seeds in a hill. After the plants begin 

 to crowd and danger from the striped beetle is pretty 

 nearly over, thin to three plants to the hUl. Give fre- 

 quent but shallow cultivation, until the plants make 

 runners so long that this is impracticable. In field cul- 

 ture, plow furrows four feet apart and simhar ones at 

 rignt angles to the first. At each intersection drop a 

 shovelful or more of loell rotted manure which should be 

 roell mixed with the soil, forming a broad, flat hill four 

 to six inches above the surface. Many growers omit 

 every fourth row, thus forming paths for the distribu- 

 tion of manure and gathering the fruit. In many sec- 

 tions where earliness is very important, mar- 

 ket gardeners start plants in boxes made like 

 the ordinary berry box, but without the 

 raised bottom. The boxes are set in hotbeds 

 or cold frames, filled with rich, friable soil 

 and the seed planted. When danger of frost is 

 over, the plants are set in the open ground, 

 the boxes being cut away, so the roots are 

 not disturbed at all. 



The plants are liable to attack from the striped cucumber 

 beetles which are so numerous in some cases as to destroy /<\cuf> 

 them. These may be kept off by a frequent dusting vfith. f^f'^ 

 air slacked lime, soot or sifted ashes diluted with fine road^ \kv s 

 earth. Care should be taken not to use too much of any of Vfll^rfoflllt' 

 the above materials, for if used too freely they will kill the ^-Ji*i-^ 

 vines. The best protection against injury is a vigorous and 

 rapid growth of the young plants. 



Pick the fruit before it begins to ripen, as the vines will cease setting 

 fruit as soon as any seed begins to mature. In gathering for pickles, cut 

 the stem instead of pulling the fruit off, and be careful not to mar the 

 fruit in any way, for if the skin be broken the pickles will not keep so w^ell. 



We pay -particular attention to groiving and selecting the various 

 strains of cucumbers, so as to keep them pure and true to name. 



Early Short Green 

 Cucumber. 



I'FprlV DllCQlfln Earliest and hardiest. Vine vigorous and pro- 



l' LQI Ijr llllooiail (luctive. Fruit three to four inches long, thick, 

 oval, and covered with fine, small spines. Pkt. oc; Oz. 20c; 

 2 Oz. 35c; h Lb. 60c; Lb. $2.00 



PI 11 of A I* Vine vigorous, producing the bulk of the crop 



V>IUo Ivl near the root and in clusters. Fruit short, with 



'\ uniformly thick end, dark green, but paler at blossom end. A very 



\ productive sort. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 20c; 2 Oz. 35c; h Lb. 60c; Lb. $2.00 



/Early Short Orccn, or Early Erame 



An excellent sort both for table use and for pickUng. 

 Plants very vigorous and productive. Fruit straight, 

 handsome, small at each end, bright green, lighter at the 

 blossom end, with crisp, tender flesh, and makes excel- 

 lent pickles. Comes into use a little later than the 

 Early Cluster and keeps green a long time. Our stock 

 is very superior. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 25c; 2 Oz. 40c; 

 %Lb. 75c; Lb. $2.60 



N ^ Chicago, or 



Westerfield Pickling 



Very popular with market gar- 

 deners. Fruit medium length, 

 ointed at each end, with very 

 arge and prominent spines; 

 color deep green. It is an ex- 

 tremely prohfic variety and is 

 one of the best for those 

 who want crisp, coarse- 

 ly prickled pickles. 



Pkt. 5c; Oz. 30c; 



2 0z. 55c; 3^ Lb. $1.00; 



Lb. $2.75 



Jersey 

 Pickling 



Intermediate between 

 the Long and the Short 

 Green, forming a long, 

 slender, cylindrical 

 pickle, which is very 

 crisp and tender. 

 Pkt. 5c; Oz. 25c; 

 2 0z. 40c; 

 H Lb. 76c; 

 Lb. $2.60 



Early Cluster Cucumber. 



Jersey Pickling Cucumber. 



