D. M. FERRY & COS DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



25 



BIS^I AKCK.— A cross between the Long Green and White 

 >pine, having the dark, slender pickle of the former and the 



Bismarck. 



color of the latter when full size. Fruit long, cylindrical, 

 verj- constant in form and color: flesh crisp and tender and 

 excellent either for pickles or slicing. Those who want a 

 cucumber longer than White Spine, but with its other char- 

 acters, will find iu this variety all they desire. 



Improved Long Green. 



I3IPKOTED LONG GREEN.— Produced by selection 

 from the Long Green. Vines vigorous and productive, form- 

 ing fruit fit for the 

 table nearly as early 

 as the shorter sorts; 

 fruit about twelve 

 inches long, firm and 

 crisp, with very few 

 seeds. The young fi-uit 

 makes one of the best 

 of pickles, and when 

 ripe is the best of any 

 for sweet pickles. 



GHERKIN, FOR 

 PICKLING.-A verj 

 small, oval, prickly 

 variety, quite distinct 

 from all others. It is 

 grown exclusivelj' for 

 pickling: is the small- 

 est of all the varieties 

 and should alwaj'S be 

 picked when young and 

 tender. The seed is 

 slow to germinate, re- 

 quiring usually from 

 Gherkin. two to three weeks. 



French, Aubergine. German, Eierpflanze. 

 The Egg Plant, when well gro%^-n and properly cooked, is a 

 delicious vegetable, and it should find a place in"^every garden. 

 Culture.— The seed germinates slowly, and should be 



started in strong heat, for in this, as in all sub-tropical 

 plants, it is of importance to secure a rapid and <;ontinuous 

 growth from the first, the plants never recovering from a 

 check received when young. When the plants have formed 

 two rough leaves, transplant to three or four inches apart. 

 Keep the bed closed and very warm, shading from the direct 

 rays of the sun. and giving abundance of water until the 

 ground is waim and all danger, not only from frost, but 

 from cold nights, is past: thenharden off the plants by grad- 

 ual exposure to the sun and air. and decrease the supply of 

 water, then carefully transplant into very warm, rich soil, 

 setting the plants two and a-half feet apart. If needed, 

 shade the young ptlants and jjrotect them from the jxjtato 

 bug, which is verj' fond of them, and if not ftrevented will 

 , often destroy them. Some seasons Egg Plants will fail to set 

 ] fruit, or will not begin bearing until too late to mature, no 

 matter how faithfully they may have been cared for. This 

 is especially liable to happen if the summer is cool and rather 

 moist. We know of no remedy for this. Pinching off the 

 ends of the branches after the plants begin to bloom, and not 

 ; letting more than two or three fruits set will often effect 

 something, and is a good practice any year. 



EARLY LONG PURPLE.-This is one of the earliest 

 and most productive varieties; fruit long, dark, rich purple, 

 and of fine quality. 



BLACK PEKIN.— Nearly as early as the last, and nearly 

 as large as the later sorts. Very prolific and desirable for 

 market gardeners" use. Fruit nearly round; skin smooth, 

 black and glo.ssy: flesh white, fine grained and delicate. 



LARGE NE^V YORK PURPLE.- Large, round or 

 oval, of excellent quality; later than the preceding and 

 highly esteemed in the New York market. 



Early Long Purple. 



D. M. Ferrv a, Cos Improved Large Purple. 



D. 31. FERRY & GO'S IMPROVED LARGE PIR- 



PLE.— This variety has almost superseded all others both 

 for market and private use. owing to the large size and high 

 quality of its fruits and its extreme productiveness. Plants 

 large spreading: foliage light green: fruit very large, oval or 

 short pear shaped: color dark purple with an occasional 

 splash of gi-eeu around the stem. Plants ripen usually two 

 to six large fruits. 



ENDIVE. 



French. Chicoree. German. Endivien. 



Endive in its natural state is very bitter, but when properly 

 blanched its leaves make a fine "salad, and maturing as it 

 does after lettuce is past, it is very useful. 



Culture.— Endive may be grown at any season of the 

 year, but is more generally used late in the fall. Sow the 

 seed during .lune or July, in drills fourteen inches apart, and 

 when well established thin the plants to one foot apart. 

 When nearly full grown, tie the outer leaves together over 

 the centre in order to blanch the heart of the plant, or better 

 still, place a square box over each plant and let remain about 

 a week, when it will lie thoroughly blanched. By covering 

 every few days a succe.><sion may be kept uji. 



