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



39 



CUCUMBER 



Snows Pickling 



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 the vines as desired for use 

 than it is in the more or less 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 abun- 

 dance of good fruit can be raised on any rich garden soil. Plant 

 the seed not over an inch deep in liills four to six feet apart each 

 way, dropping fifteen to twenty seeds in a hill. After tlie plants 

 begin to crowd and danger from the striped beetle is pretty well 

 over, thin to three plants to the hill. Give frequent but shallow 

 cultivation until the plants make runners so long 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 manure 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 the fruit. 



In many sections, where earliness is very important, market 

 gardeners start plants in boxes made like the ordinary berry 

 box, but witliout the raised bottom. The boxes are set in hot- 

 beds 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 that the roots 

 are not disturbed at all. 



The striped cucumber beetle is often very destructive to young plants. These beetles, 

 when not very numerous, are usually kept from doing serious damage by dusting the 

 plants with fine road earth. Tobacco dust and plaster may be used with impunity. Lime 

 and 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 blight. The best 

 protection against injury is a vigorous and rapid growth of the young plants. 



Pick the fruit as soon as it is large enovigh and before it begins to ripen, as the vines 

 will cease setting 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 so as to keep 

 them pure and true to name. 



P I jr>\ . An early and very productive variety. The vines are hardy and very 



1 1-ia.riy V^'lUSter vigorous, bearing fruits in clusters of two or three. The fruits are short, 



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



in many sections for the home garden. It is extensively used for a pickling cucumber as 



well as for slicing. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 20c; 2 Oz. 35c; V4 Lb. 55c; Lb. $1.75 



It is an early, bright 

 . ' '. ' for slicing 



and pickling. The vines lire very vigorous and productive. The fruits are straight, a 

 little smaller at the ends, bright green in colDr. shading lighter at the blossom end. The 

 flesh is crisp and tender. The variety is extensively used for the home garden. Our stock 

 is very superior. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; V4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.50 



Q ' T>' 1 1* ^^ early maturing, very small, dark green cucumber, cylindrical, 



OnOW S r ICRling square 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 uniformity of type and we believe the seed we offer meets in all respects 



the requirements of those who want an ideal bottle pickle. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; 



V4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.50 



/-^i . \XT i £• 1 J r>» 1 !• The fruits of this very desirable sort are 



(^hlCagO or Westerrield riCkling of medium length, tapering at each end, 



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



variety and one of the best for those who want crisp, coarsely spined pickles. Pkt. 10c; 



Oz. 15c; 2 0z.25c;i/4Lb. 40c;Lb. $1.50 



D * D* 1 1* '^^^^^ ^^ ^ very productive variety that is extensively grown for 



DOStOn JriCKling plckles. The vines are vigorous. The fruits are bright green, 



of medium size, very smooth and symmetrical. The flesh is crisp and tender. Our seed 



is decidedly superior to much that is offered. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; V4 Lb. 



40c; Lb. $1.50 



I D* 1 1* This variety is between the Long and the Short Green, forming 



Jersey trickling a long, slender, 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 length. This sort is desirable for slicing as well as for 



pickhng. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 15c; 2 Oz. 25c; V4 Lb. 40c; Lb. $1.50 



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



tarly Wnite opine fruiting early and abundantly. The fruits are uniformly straight, 



dark green, fairly well covered with white spines and when mature are usually about 



seven inches in length. 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. $1.50 • 



Vl J*l A medium early, white spined cucumber of handsome, very dark green color 



IVlOnCIlKe and of excellent quality for slicing. The vines are very hardy and productive. 



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



in length, and are uniform in size and shape. The color is very dark green, slightly striped 



at the ends. The dark green color is retained much longer and is aiTected 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. lOc; Oz. 20c; 



2 Oz. 35c; V4 Lb. 55c; Lb. $1.75 



F 1 QV» t- f^ This variety is known also as EarlyFrame 



Harly OtlOrt Vireen green cucumber of medliim size, very extensively 



Klondike 



