32 



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



CUCUMBER 



This is one of the vegetables that can be grown to per- 

 fection by any one who 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 well rotted 

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

 any rich garden soil. Plant the seed 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 hill. Give frequent but shallow cultivation, until 

 the plants make runners so long that this is impractica- 

 ble. In field culture, plow furrows four feet apart and 

 similar ones at riffht angles to the first. At each intersec- 

 tion drop a shovelful or more of well rotted manure which 

 should be loell 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 distri- 

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

 tions where earliaess is very important, market garden- 

 ers 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 them. These 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 pro- 

 tection against injury is a vigorous and rapid growth of 

 the young plants. 



Pick all the fruit before it begins to ripen, as the vines will cease set- 

 ting 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 of cucumbers, so as to keep them pure and trxie to name. 



Early Short Qreen 

 Cucumber. 



Earliest and hardiest. Vine vigorous and produc- 

 tive. Fruit three to four inches long, thick, oval. 



EARLY RUSSIAN 



pointed at each end, and covered with fine, small spines. Pkt7 5c; Oz. 25c 



^" " % Lb. 75c; Lb. $2.50 



FARI Y ri I I^TFD ^i"^® vigorous, producing the bulk of the crop 

 L-rinLl vLUOILH 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. 25c; 2 Oz. 40c; ^ Lb. 75c; Lb. $2.25 



EARLY SHORT GREEN, or EARLY ERAME 



An excellent sort both for table use and for pickling. 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 excellent 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; H Lb. 75c; Lb. $2.50 



CHICAGO, or 



Westerfield Pickling; 



Very popular with Chicago market 



gardeners and extensively grown in 



that vicinity. Fruit medium 



length, pointed at each end, with 



very large and prominent 



i; spines; color deep green. It is 



an extremely prolific vari- 



I, ety and is one of the best 



' for those who want a crisp, 



coarsely prickled pickle. 



y-:,/// Pkt.5c; Oz.SOe; 2 Oz.55c; 



% Lb. $1.00; Lb. $2.75 



JBRSBY 

 PIGKbllNG 



Very popular in New Jer- 

 sey. 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 Oz. 40c; ^Lb. 75c; 

 Lb. $2.50 



Early Cluster Cucumber. 



Jersey Pickling. 



