D. M. FERRY & CO 



DETROIT, MICH 



31 



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 family should be supplied from its own garden, since the fruit is £0 

 much better when gathei-ed fresh from the vines as desired for 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 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 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 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, w^here earliness is very ira- 



f)ortant, market gardeners start plants in boxes made 

 ike 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 eai-th. Care shovild 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 puUing 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. 



Early 



Early White Spine 



r^ 1 i^l M. ^ine vigorous, producing the bulk of the crop 



HSirly l^lUStei" near the root and in clusters. Fruit short, with 



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



hardy and very productive sort. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 20c; 



k Lb. 30c; Lb. $1.00 



Qi . f>i This variety is known also as Early Frame 



OtlOrt vjreen 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 than the 

 Early Cluster and keeps green a long time. Our stock is very 

 superior. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 20c; h Lb. 30c; Lb. $1.00 

 ■mm .. »>• 1 !• A pickling strain of western origin, even 



Muscatine riCKling in shape, of deep green color, blunt 

 ended and very desirable for small pickles. One of the most promis- 

 ing of the recent improvements in pickling cucumbers. Pkt. 5c; 

 Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; % Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.25 

 n • D £ J. J Th® small cucumbers of this splendid vari- 



r^reSSmg r errected ety are short, cylindrical and blunt ended, 

 PicWlinO" "i^l^in&i when packed in bottles, very handsome, showy 

 i. i^ivtiiig 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; 2 Oz. 25c; h Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.25 

 C * P* 11* An early maturing, very small, dark green cu- 



ijnOW S 1 ICRlmg cumber; cylindrical, square ended, and very 

 popular with many growers who want an ideal bottle pickle. The 

 seed we offer was grown from a very fine lot of stock seed procured 

 from the originator. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz, 25c; H Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.25 

 ^-Mi . -w-wT , r« ij Very popular with market gar- 



ChlCagOy or Westertield deners. Fruit medium length, 

 Pirlclino" PC>iDted at each end, with very large and prominent spines; 

 r ii..i&iiiig 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; 2 Oz. 20c; H Lb. 35c; Lb. $1.10 

 tj , fj. I 1. A distinct and very productive variety exten- 



I>OStOn riCKling slvely grown for pickles. The fruits are of 

 medium size, very smooth, symmetrical and bright green. Pkt. 5c; 

 Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 20c; % Lb. 35c; Lb. $1.10 

 f D* 1 1* Intermediate betw^een the Long and the Short 



Jersey rlCKling Green, forming a long, slender, cylindrical 

 pickle which is very crisp and tender. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 20c; 

 H Lb. 35c; Lb. $1.10 

 17 1 '\A/V»** Q " One of the best sorts for table use. Vines 



Hiarly Wnite opine vigorous, fruiting early and abundantly; 

 fruit uniformly straight and handsome, bright green, with a few white 

 spines; flesh tender and of excellent flavor. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 

 2 Oz. 20c; H Lb. 35c; Lb. $1.10 

 A 1. . A selection from the Early White Spine, which is more 



/VrlingtOn pointed at each end. The young fruits are unusually 

 crisp and tender 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. 10c; 2 Oz. 20c; \ Lb. 35c; Lb. $1.10 



