38 



D. M. FERRY & COS DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



HUBBARD'S MARKET (seed white).— After the style 

 of Tennis Ball, but grows larger and Is later to mature, and 

 the head is a little more open. Popular in some eastern 

 markets. 



EARLY CURLED SILESIA (seed white).— An early 

 -erect growing, loose heading variety, which may be used very 

 young. Color light green ; leaves much frilled and savoyed. 



FERRY'S EARLY PRIZE HEAD (seed white).— 

 Careful comparison for several years with scores of varieties 

 of American and foreign lettuces convinces us that this is by 

 far the best variety for those who like a thin, tender, sweet 

 lettuce ; but it is so tender that it is very difficult to market it 

 in good condition, and so has no place in market gardens 

 unless it can be delivered directly to the consumer. Plant 

 large, deep green, so washed with red as often to appear 

 more red than green ; forming a head of a dense mass of 

 leaves rather than one like a cabbage, and very slow to run 

 to seed; leaves large, nearly round, frilled at the edge and 

 densely blistered. They are exceedingly crisp, tender and 

 good flavored, and do not become bitter nearly as early as 

 those of other varieties. 



■ERRY'S tARLY t'RIZE 



He/ 



HANSON (seed white). — This is the best heading lettuce 

 grown, and furnishes the best blanched leaves, fully equaling 

 those of the Cos varieties. Unfortunately a great deal of 

 spurious and inferior stock has been sold, thus diminishing 

 its popularity, but when pure it cannot fail to give satisfac- 

 tion, and we think we have perfectly pure and true stock. 

 Plant large, forming a large, flat head, resembling that of a 

 cabbage, and so slow to run to seed that it often fails to form 

 any seed stalk. Outer leaves bright green, with prominent, 

 light colored veins, inner leaves white and usually curved 

 and twisted at the base, very tender and sweet. 



PHILADELPHIA BUTTER, OR EARLY TYHITE 

 HEAD (SEED white).— Many prefer a thick leaved, smooth 

 lettuce, and to meet this demand we present this sort. Plant 

 -dark green, with many nearly round, thick leaves formed 

 into a very solid, round head, which stands a long time with- 

 out running to seed. Leaves very thick, folded or puckered 

 at the base, the inner ones blanched to a rich yellow color, 

 and exceedingly rich and nutty in flavor. 



Philadelphia Butter, or Early White Head. 



ERANKFORT HEAD (seed black).— The best light 

 colored, smooth, thick leaved head lettuce. Plant light, 

 bright green, with many broad, smooth leaves, nearly all of 

 which are gathered into a dense, round head, which is slow 

 to run to seed. Leaves very thick, the inner ones blanched 

 to a light yellow, tender and of a rich flavor. 



BUTTERCUP (SEED white).— Plant medium sized, with 

 numerous round, smooth leaves, which are of a beautiful 

 yellow color, and very sweet and tender. The plants are 

 vigorous, but do not run to seed until very late, remaining in 

 condition for use about as long as any variety we have tested. 



DEACON (seed white).— While this does not make as 

 large a head as some others, the heads formed are very solid 

 and of excellent flavor, and remain in condition for use as 

 long as any variety in cultivation. Plant medium size, with 

 very few outer leaves; leaves light green, very thick. This 

 is certainly one of the best varieties for summer use. 



LARGE DRUMHEAD, OR VICTORIA CABBAGE 



(seed white).— The largest of the heading lettuces. Plant 

 very large, forming an immense, loose head, bright green 

 without and light green or white within. Leaves very large, 

 strongly veined, coarse, but the inner ones are very crisp 

 and tender. 



BROWN DUTCH (seed brown).— An old sort, noted for 

 its hardiness. Leaves large, thick, green, tinged with brown. 

 It always forms a large, solid head, which is somewhat 

 coarse looking, but the inner leaves are beautifully blanched, 

 exceedingly sweet, tender and well flavored. Desirable 

 because of its hardiness and fine quaUty. 



EARLY BOSTON CURLED (seed black).— One of the 

 most beautiful varieties in cultivation. Plant medium in size, 

 deep, rich green in color, with many broad leaves which are 

 so deeply frilled that the plant looks like a bunch of moss. 

 When young the leaves are of good quality, but they soon 

 become bitter and the plant quickly runs to seed 



The Cos lettuces are distinct from the preceding sorts, in 

 having long, narrow, spoon shaped leaves, which usuallj- 

 fold into loose sugar loaf shaped heads, which blanch better 

 by having the outer leaves drawn about them and tied. 

 They are justly celebrated throughout Europe on account of 

 their exceeding crispness, tenderness and delicate flavor, 

 and are becoming more and more popular in this country as 

 they become better known. 



COS, EARLY WHITE SELF-FOLDING (seed white). 

 —A new and distinct Cos lettuce which does not need tying 

 up. The leaves are yellowish-white in color, long, narrow, 

 upright, folding into a solid head like that of an Early 

 York cabbage. This is a truly self -blanching lettuce; is 

 very crisp and tender, and of superior flavor. Sold also as 

 Trianon. 



MA^RTYNIA., 



A strong growing, hardy, annual plant, with curious 

 shaped seed pods, which, when young and tender, are highly 

 prized for pickhng. The pods are produced in great abund- 

 ance, and should be gathered when about half grown; after 

 the hardening of the flesh they are worthless. 



Culture.— Sow seed after settled warm weather in rows 

 three feet apart and thin the plants to two feet in the row. 



PROBOSCIDEA The common variety. Sow in rich, 



warm soil after corn is well up, in drills three feet apart, and 

 thin the plants out to two feet in the row. 



MBLON, MUSK. 



French, Melon. German, Zucker-Melone. 



The Musk Melon is too imiversally popular to need any 

 special description. 



Culture.— Cultivate as recommended for cucumbers, ex- 

 cept that the hills should be six feet apart. Rich earth for 

 the young plants is far better than manure, but if the latter 

 must be used, see that it is well rotted. If the plants grow 

 very rank, more and finer fruit will be secured by pinching 

 off the ends of the shoots when about three feet long. 



JENNY LIND.— An extra early green fleshed melon, and 

 one of the sweetest in cultivation. Fruits globular or flat 

 globe shaped, ribbed and covered with a shallow netting: 

 medium size to small. One of the best -melons for hotel and 

 restaurant use on account of its convenient size. 



SKILLMAN'S FINE NETTED.— A very early melon of 

 small size, varying in shape from almost oval to a flattened 

 globe. Skin green until the fruit is over ripe, when it 

 becomes yellow, covered with fine netting. Flesh light 

 green, very thick, sweet and of m.oderately high flavor. 



