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



39 



keep 



CUCUMBER 



This is one of the vegetables that can be grown to perfection by any one who can 

 control a few square yards of reasonably good soil that is fully exposed to the sun. 

 Every family should be supplied from its own garden, since 'the fruit is so much 

 better when gathered fresh from tiie vines as desired for use than it is in the more 

 or les^ 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 eacli way. dropping lifteen to twenty seeds in a hill. After the plants be-:iu 

 to croivd and danger fro:u the striped beetle is pretty well over, thin to turee 

 plants to the hill. Give frequent but shallo'v cultivation until the plants make 

 runners so Ion? that this is impracticable. 



In field culture, plow furrows four feet apart and similar ones at right angles 

 to the first. At each intersection drop a shovelful or more of well-rotted mamu-e 

 which should be well mixed with the soil. Many growers omit every sixth or eighth 

 row. thus forming paths for the distribution of manure and gathering tlie fruit. " 



In many sections, wliere earliness is very important, market gardeners start plants 

 in boxes made like the ordinary berry box. but without tiie raised bottom. The 

 boxes are set in hotbeds or cold-frames, filled with rich, friable soil and the seed 

 planteT Wii^n danger of frost is over, the planis are set in the open ground, the 

 boxes being cut away, so that the roots are not disturbed at all. 



The striped cucumber beetle is often very destructive to yotmg plants. These 

 beetles, when not very ntimerous. are tisually kept from doing serious damage by 

 dusting the plants wifh fine road earth. Tobacco dust and plas'ter may be use i with 

 impunity. Lime anl ashes are more effective but will injure the plants if used too 

 freely. We spray our fields, at intervals of ten days through the season, with Bordeaux 

 mixture to which has been added Paris green, which is a poison for biting insects and 

 a preventive of l>light. The best protection against injury is a vigorous and rapid 

 growth of the voting plants. 



Pick the fruit as soon as it is large enough and before it begins to ripen, sa 

 the vines will cease setting fruit as soon as any seed begins to matui-e. Ingathering 



for pickles, cut the stem instead of ptiliing the fruit off and be careftil not to mar Snov. ■$ Pickling 



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 u 

 them pure' and true to name. 



U» 1 ^1 , An early and very productive variety. The vines are hardy and very 



iLarly l^lUStei' vlgoroti's. bearing' fruits in cltisters of "two or three. The fruit's are short. 



thick, bright green, shading lighter at blossom end. crisp and tender. This sort is planted 



in manv sections for the home garden. It is extensively tised for a pickling cucumber as 



well as for slicing. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; 1/4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.25 



p 1 Qi . f>< This variety is known also as EarlyFrame. It is an early, bright 



Harly ijllOrt Vareen green cucumber of medium size, very extensively tised for slicing 



and pickling. The vines are very vigorous and productive. The fruit's are straight, a 



little smaller at the ends, bright g'reen in C'l^lor. shading lighter at the blossom end. Tlie 



flesh is crisp and tender. Tlie variety is extensively ttsed f'_)r the home garden. C^ur sti'ck 



is very stiperior. Pkt, 10c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; V4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.25 



Q f P' 1 1* ^^ early maturing, very small, dark green cticumber. cylindrical. 



OnOW S r ICKlmg sqtiare "ended, and very popular with growers for small pickles. 



"We have been growing this variety ourselves'for several years, giving special attention 



to purity and tmiformity of type and we believe the seed 'we offer meets in all respects 



the reqti'irements of thos'e who' want an ideal bottle pickle. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; 



1/4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.25 



^TMi . ^-jr r* 1J o* 1 1* The fruits of this very desirable sort are 



Chicago or Westerheld ricklmg of medium length, tapering at each end. 



with very large and prominent spines. The color is deep green. This is a very prolific 



variety an-i one of the best for those who want crisD. coarsely spined pickles. 'Pkt. 10c; 



Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; V4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.25 



B^. 1 |. This is a very productive variety that is e.xtensively l-towu for 



OStOn r ICkling plckles. The vines are vigorous. The frtiits are bright green, 

 of medium size, very smooth and symmetrical. The flesh is crisp and tender. (>ur seed 

 is decidedlv superio'r to much tha't is offered. Pkt, 10c; Oz, 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; V4 Lb. 

 40c; Lb. $1.25 



JQ. 1 1. This variety is between the Long and the Short Green, fornung 



ersey r ICklmg a long, sle'nder. cylindrical deep green pickle which is very crisp 



and tender. The vines are very vigorous' and productive. The mature fruits are usually 

 about eight to nine inches in' leneth. This sort is I'esirable f'^r slicing as well as for 

 pickhng. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; V4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.25 



C 1 W/l-'j. C • '^'^^ of the best sorts for table use. The vines are vigorous. 



tarly Wnite opine fruiting early and abundantly. 1 he fruits are uniformly straight. 



darlc green, fairlv well covered with white spines and when mature are usually ab-ut 

 seven inches in lensTth. The flesh is crisp, tender and of excellent quality. The variety 

 is much used for the home garden and market. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; 

 1/4 Lb. 40c; Lb, $1,25 



-r| J. I A medium early, white spined cucumber of handsome, verj- dark green color 

 Ivlonaike and of excellen't quality for slicing. The vines are very hardy and productive. 



The mature frtiits when grown under favorable conditions are often about eight inches 

 in length, and are uniform in size and sha]:ie. The color is very dark- green, slitrhtly striped 

 at the ends. The dark green color is retained much longer and is affected less by the hot 

 sun than any other sort with which we are familiar. Its uniform size and shape and 

 splendid color are making this variety very popular as a shipping sort. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 15c; 

 2 Oz. 25c; 1/4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.50 



C" 1 17 .^ -^^ excell-nt shipping varietv producing very attractive fruits of rich 



tarly r OrtUne dark green color. The fruits average uniformly about nine inches 



long, cylindrical or slightly tapered at ends. Tlie seed cavity is small and the flesh thick. 

 crisp and tender. Plants vigorous grnwina: and productive. Recommended a^ one of the 

 best shipping sorts yet introduced. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; V4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.50 



T\ * ry r m Fruits yeiw deep green in color, rather long, averaging ten inches or 



UaVlS 1 errect more in le'ngth. white spined. quite slender, symmetrical, tapering 



slightly at both ends. Flesh is crisp, tender and of good quality. The seed cavity is 



sma 1, ' The vines are very vigorous growing and quite productive. Recommended as one 



of the best sorts fir shiopi'ng as it retains its attractive dark color for a long time after 



Klondike picking. Pkt. 10c; Oz.lSc; 2 Oz. 25c; V4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.50 



