30 



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



CUCUMBER 



This is one of the vegetables that can be grown to 

 perfection by any one who can control a few square 

 yards of soil that is fully exposed to the sun. Every 

 t'amily should be supplied from its own garden, since 

 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 fovmd on the market. 



In oi'der to obtain the largest yield of cucumbers, 

 the soil should be well enriched with well rotted 

 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 sis 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 well over, thin to tliree plants to the 

 hill. Give frequent but shallow cultivation until the 

 plants make runners so long that this is impracticable. 

 In field culture, plow furrows four feet apart and simi- 

 lar ones at right angles to the first. At each inter- 

 section drop a shovelful or more of well rotted manure 

 which shovild be well 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 distribution of manure and gathering 

 the fruit. In many sections, where earliness is very im- 

 portant, market gardeners start plants in boxes made 

 like the ordinary berry box, but without the raised bot- 

 tom. The boxes are set in hotbeds or cold frames, filled 

 with rich, friable soil and the seed planted. When dan- 

 ger of frost is over, the plants are set in the open 

 ground, the boxes being cut away, so that 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 them. These insects may be kept off by a 

 frequent dusting with air slacked lime, soot or sifted 

 ashes diluted with fine road earth. Care should be taken 

 not to use too much of any of the above materials, for 

 if used too freely they will kill the vines. The best 

 protection against injurj^ 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 pu'ling 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 well. 



We pay particular attention to growing and select- 

 ing the various strains so as to keep them pure and 

 true to name. 



Pressing Perfected Pickling 



?ieen, but paler at 

 >kt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 



Chicago Picki ing 



PI r^li-issf^av ^iii^ vigororis. producing the bulk of the 

 S-iany ^lUSier crop near the root and in clusters. Fruit 



short, with uniformly thick end, dark 



blossom end. A very productive sort. 



3 Oz. 15c; %Lb. 35c; Lb. 80c. 



Early Short Green, or tawe^uselnd^for'pidding. 



I7'>B>Kr ^-^w^w^rt^ Plants very vigorous and productive. 



SLariy rrame Fruit straight, a little smaller at the 

 ends, bright green, lighter at the blossom end. Comes into 

 condition for use a little later than the Early Cluster and 

 keeps green a long time. Our stock is very superior. Pkt. 5c; 

 Oz. lOc; 3 Oz. 15c; % Lb. 35c; Lb. 80c. 



Pressing Perfected ™J,hlS»i'f£ 



Pir^lrlirtrr splendid variety are short, cylin- 

 jriCKiing drical and blunt ended making, 

 when packed in bottles, very handsome, 

 showy pickles of the very best qxiality. For 

 this purpose we recommend the variety more 

 highly than any other sort. The vines are vig- 

 orous, setting their fruit early and are very 

 productive. Pkt. 5c: Oz. 10c: S Oz. 30c; 

 %Lb. 30c: Lb. $1.00 



Chicago, or Westerfield popxnZ 



Fruit 

 medium length, pointed at each 

 end with very large and prominent spines; 

 color deep green. It is an extremely prolific 

 variety and is one of the best for those who 

 want crisp, coarsely spined pickles. Pkt. 5c; 

 Oz. 10c: 3 Oz. 15c: % Lb. 35c; Lb. 80c. 



Boston Pickling ^rot^Sr^'^'S? 



extensively grown for pickles. The fruits are 

 of medium size, very smooth, symmetrical and 

 bright green. Pkt.' 5c: Oz. 10c; 3 Oz. I5c; 

 % Lb. 35c; Lb. SOc. 



J^.,^..^,,, O^^l.f'K^rv Intermediate between the Long 

 eiSey rlCKllng and the Short Green, formu^g a 

 l(>'ig. slander, cvlindrical pickle which is very crisp and ten- 

 der Pkt. 5c: Oz. 10c; 3 Oz. 15c: ^ Lb. 35c; Lb. 80c. 



One of the best sorts for table 

 use. Vines vigorous, fruiting 

 early and abundantly: fruit uniformly straight and hand- 

 some, dark green, with a few white spines; flesh tender 

 and of excellent flavor. In this country this variety is used 

 more, we pi-esume. than any other for forcing under glass. 

 Pkt. 5c: Oz. 10c: 3 Oz. 15c; h Lb, 35c; Lb. SOc. 



Pitf'li-li'ncy '^yith market gardeners. 



Early ¥/hite Spine 



