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D. M. FERRY & CO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



LONG LIGHT ICING.— A variety established by selec- 

 tion until it is uniformly long, oval in shape and nearly twice 

 as heavy as the Round Icing. In other respects it is much 

 like that sort and fully equal to it in quality. 



Kolbs Gem. 



Boss. 



BOSS.— We do not think this name is in good taste, but we 

 are not responsible for that, and so good a variety should 

 not be neglected because poorly named. Vines small, but 

 vigorous, with small, finely divided leaves. Fruit above 

 medium size, long, with rounded ends, very dark green skin 

 and exceedingly bright red flesh, which extends to within 

 one-half inch of the surface, and is very sweet. Seed small, 

 dark brown. It is an excellent sort for home use, but of 

 little value for shipping. 



BLACK SPANISH.— Vine small, so that they may be 

 planted closer than most sorts. Round, very dark green, 

 with scarlet flesh and black seeds. It is not so large as some 

 of the other sorts, but very sweet and of fine flavor. 



GYPSY, OK GEORGIA RATTLESNAKE.-One of 



the largest varieties, and stands shipment long distances 

 This sort is widely used in the South for northern shipments 

 Fruit cylindrical, square at the ends, smooth, distinctly 



striped and mottled light and dark green. Flesh bright 

 scarlet and very sweet. 



CUBAN QUEEN.— One of the largest melons known, 

 specimens having been grown that weighed eighty -two 

 pounds. Vines vigorous ; skin striped light and dark green 

 Rind medium thick; but the fruit stands shipment well' 

 Flesh bright red, solid, very crisp and sugary. 



KOEB'S GEM — The most profitable variety to grow for 

 shipping long distances. Vines of medium size, but remark- 

 ably vigorous and healthy. Leaves of medium size, deeply 

 cut with a peculiar, frilled edge. Fruit of the largest size 

 round or slightly oval, marked with irregular mottled stripes 

 of dark and light green in sharp contrast, which gives it a 

 bright and attractive appearance. Outer rind or shell 

 exceedingly hard and firm, resembling that of a winter 

 squash. Flesh bright red, extending to within half an inch 

 of the rind; always solid, very firm, a little coarse, but 

 sweet and tender. An excellent keeper. Seeds dark gray 



MAMMOTH IRON CUAD.-Similar in marking and in 

 general character to the Kolb's Gem, possessing the same 

 good qualities of the fruit, and quite as coarse grained, but 

 differing in shape, this being long and cylindrical like the 

 Rattlesnake. The vines are also very large and coarse, and 

 are late in coming into bearing, so that it does not succeed 

 in heavy soils. 

 MOUNTAIN SWEET.-A large, oval variety; rind 

 green; flesh scarlet and quite solid 

 to the centre, very sweet and delici- 

 ous. This is an old standard sort 

 and one of the best for the home 

 garden. 



MOUNTAIN SPROUT.- A 

 large, long, striped variety, with 

 bright, scarlet flesh and drab colored 

 seeds; it differs from the Mountain 

 Sweet in color and shape, is rather 

 late, and will keep longer in the fall. 

 ORANGE.— An oval melon, skin 

 green ; flesh scarlet, of good quality, 

 and is peculiar in that the flesh may 

 be easily separated from the rind 

 like an orange. 



ICE CREAM.— Medium sized, 

 with scarlet flesh, and very sweet; 

 a good variety for main crop. 

 CITRON.— Employed in making preserves. Grows uni- 

 formly round and smooth, striped and marbled with light 

 green. Flesh white and solid; seeds red. 



MUSHROOMS, 



The Mushroom is an edible fungus, of a white color, chang- 

 ing to brown when old. The gills are loose, of a pinkish-red, 

 changing to liver color. It produces no seed, but instead, a 

 white, fibrous substance in , , „__ 



broken threads, called &hP \ U_ ¥% 



spawn, which is preserved 

 in horse manure, being 

 pressed in the form of 

 bricks. Thus prepared it 

 will retain its vitality for 

 years. 



Cultur e.— Mushrooms 

 can be grown in the cellar, 

 in sheds, or in hot-beds in 

 open air, on shelves, or 

 out-of-the-way places. 

 Fermenting horse manure 

 at a temperature of about 

 70 degrees, mixed with an 

 equal weight of fresh sod 

 loam, is made into beds the 

 size required, eight inches 

 deep. See to it that the bed 

 is packed very solidly and evenly. In this bed plant the broken 

 pieces of spawn six inches apart, covering the whole with two 

 inches of light soil, and protect from cold and rain. The 

 mushrooms will appear in about six weeks. Water sparingly 

 and with luke warm water. 



Citron. 



