30 



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



CUCUMBER 



This is one of the vegetables that can be grown to 

 perfection by any one wiio can control a few square 

 yards of 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 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 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 well ovei-, thia 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 simi- 

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

 section drop a shovelful or more of well rotted manure 

 which should 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 wuth 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 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 weU. 



We pay particular attention to growing and select- 

 ing the various strains so as to keep them pure and 

 true to name. 



Early 



Early White Spine 



Pressing Perfected Pickling 



^1 . Vine vigorous, producing the bulk of the 



L-lUSter crop 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. 15c; 



2 Oz. 35c; H Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.35 



«-• I oi . f^ This variety is known also as Early 



JLarly Onort Ijreen Frame and is an excellent sort, 

 both for table use and for pickling. Plants very vigorous and 

 productive. Fruit straight, a little smaller at the ends, bright 

 green, lighter at the blossom end. Comes into condition for 

 use a little later tlian the Early Cluster and keeps green a 

 longtime. Our stock is very superior. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 15c; 



3 Oz. 35c; h Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.35 



»> . D r i J The small cucumbers of this 



pressing r^erreCtea splendid variety are short, cyhn- 



^. I |. drical and blunt ended making, when packed in 



r ICKling' bottles, very handsome, showy pickles of the very 



best quality. For this purpose we recommend the variety 



more highly than any other sort. The vines are vigorous, 



setting their fruit early and are very productive. Pkt. 5c; 



Oz. 15c; 3 Oz. 35c; % Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.35 



g^t . * \i7' . r» ij Very popular with market 



Chicago, or Westerneld gardeners. Fruit medium 

 Pirlcliflff length, pointed at each end with very large and 

 ^ *^»-*"*S prominent ^spines; color deep green. It is an ex- 

 tremely prolific variety and is one of the best for those 

 who want crisp, coarsely spined pickles. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 15c; 

 3 Oz. 35c: H Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.35 



B. D* 1 1* ^ distinct and very productive va- 



OStOn r ICKlmg rlety extensively grown for pickles. 

 The fruits are of medium size, very smooth, symmetrical and 

 bright green. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 15c; 3 Oz. 35c; ^ Lb. 40c; 

 Lb. $1.35 



f T^» 1 !• Intermediate between the Long and 



Jersey riCkling the short Green, forming a long, 



slender, cylindrical pickle which is very crisp and tender. 



Pkt. 5c; dz. 15c; 3 Oz. 35c; h, Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.35 

 17 1 \X71- 'j. C • One of the best sorts for table use. 



Hariy W tllte opine vines vigorous, fruiting early and 



abundantly; fruit uniformly straight and handsome, dark 



green, with a few white spines: flesh tender and of excellent 



flavor. In this country this variety is used more, we presume. 



than any other for forcing under glass. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 15c; 



3 Oz. 35c; % Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.35 



A|. . A selection from the Early White Spine, which 



rlington is more pointed at each end. The young fruits 

 are unusually crisp and .'ender and are of very dark green 

 color so that "the variety is considered by many to be the best 

 for small pickles. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 16c; 3 Oz. 85c; % Lb. 40c; 

 Lb. $1.25 



