D. M. FERRY & CO. 



DETROIT, MICH 



31 



CUCUMBER 



This is one of the vegetables that can be grown to perfection by anyone who can control a few square yards of reasonably good 

 soil that is fully exposed to the sun. Every family should be supplied from its own garden, since the fruit is so much better when 

 gathered fresh from the vines as desired tor use than it is in the more or less wilted condition in which it is found on the market. 



In order 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 gar- 

 den 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 

 well over, thin to three 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 similar ones at right angles to the 

 first. At each intersection drop a shovelful 

 or more of well-rotted manure which should 

 be well mixed with tlie soil, forming a broad, 

 fiat hill four to six inches above the surface. 

 Many growers omit every fourth row, thus 

 forniing patlis for the distribution of manure 

 and gathering the fruit. 



In many sections, where earliness is very 

 important, market gardeners start plants in 

 boxes made like the ordinary berry box, but 



without the raised bottom. The boxes are Snows Pickling 



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 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 frequent dusting with air slaked lime, soot or sif'ed aslies diluted with fine road eart'i. 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 pro- 

 tection against injury is a vigorous and rapid growth of tiie young plants. 



Pick the fruit as soon as it is large enough and 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 well. 



We pay particular attention to growing and 

 selecting the various strains so as to keep them 

 pure and true to name. 



p I ^1 . An early and very productive 



£<a.rly i^lUSter variety. The vines are hardy 

 and very vigorous, bearing fruits in chisters of 

 two or three. The fruits are short, thick, bright 

 green, shading lighter at blossom end, crisp and 

 tender. This sort is planted in many sections for 

 the home garden. It is extensively used for a 

 pickling cucumber as well as for slicing. Pkt. 5c; 

 Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 15c; V4 Lb. 25c; Lb. 90c. 

 f7 I c;i_ . f> This variety is known 



tarly Onort Ijreen also as Early Frame. 

 It is an early, bright green cucumber of mediimi 

 size, very extensively used for slicing and piclc- 

 ling. The vines are very vigorous and productive. 

 The fruits are straight, a little smaller at the ends, 

 bright green in color, shading lighter at the blos- 

 som end. The flesh is crisp and tender. The 

 variety is extensively used for the home gard<n. 

 Our stock is very superior. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 

 2 Oz. 15c; 1/4 Lb. 25c; Lb. 90c. 



S» D* 1 1* A" early maturing, very 



news sickling small, dark green cucum- 

 ber, cylindrical, square ended, and very popular 

 with growers for small pickles. We have been 

 growing this variety ourselves for several years, 

 giving special attention to purity and uniformity 

 of type and we believe the seed we offer meets in 

 all respects the requirements of those who want 

 an ideal bottle pickle. Pkt. 5c; Oz.lOc; 2 Oz. 20c; 

 Va, Lb. 30c; Lb. $1.00 

 «« .. T>. I I. This is a pickling 



Muscatine rickling strain of western 

 origin, desirable where short, blunt ended, 

 heavily spined pickles of deep green color are 

 wanted. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 20c; Vi Lb. 30c; 

 Lb. $1.00 

 n-i . WT L C ^^ The fruits of 



Chicago or Westerrield this very desir- 



Pirlclin<y able sort are of medium length, taper- 

 r iun.iiiig jjjg ^^ each end, with very large and 

 prominent spines. The color is deep green. This 

 is a very prolific variety and one of the best for 

 those who want crisp, coarsely spined pickles. 

 Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 15c; Vi Lb. 25c; Lb. 90c. 



D J. D" 11" This is a very productive 



DOStOn sickling variety that is extensively 

 grown for pickles. The vines are vigorous. The 

 fruits are bright green, of medium size, very 

 smooth and symmetrical. The flesh is crisp and 

 tender. Our seed is decidedly superior to much 

 that is offered. Pkt. 5c: Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 15c; 

 Boston Pickling Vi Lb. 25c; Lb. SiOc. 



