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J. STECKLER SEED CO., LTD., ALMANAC AND 



A Few Remarks on Raising Vegetables for Shipping. 



Truck farming or the raising of Vegetables 

 for shipping to the Northern and Western 

 markets is a very important and growing in- 

 dustry. 



With better facilities for placing our truck 

 on the markets, a greater knowledge acquired 

 by past experience, of the best methods of 

 packing, etc., and the natural advantages of 

 our climate, this business can be made a very 

 profitable one. 



Almost every kind of Vegetables are ship- 

 ped from here, but Beans, Cucumbers, Beets, 

 Tomatoes, Cabbage and Peas form the bulk 

 of shipment. For Beans, the Dwarf Wax, 

 Improved Valentine, "Best of All," and Extra 

 Early Refugee, are principally planted for 

 shipping purposes; the last two carry well 

 and find ready sale. The Wax varieties do 

 well in a dry season, but in a wet one they 

 are very apt to spot, which makes them 

 unfit for shipping. The Ward well's Kidney 

 Wax and Dwarf Flageolet have the preference 

 amongst the dwarf sorts. The Golden Cluster 

 Wax Pole is the best kind and follows the dwarf 

 varieties in close succession. If they have 

 had a good season to grow, so they arrive in 

 good order at destination, they will sell 

 higher than any other variety. The "Crease 

 Back," — a. green podded Pole Bean intro- 

 duced here by the late Richard Frotscher, is 

 well adapted for shipping. It is very early 

 and will follow the Dwarf Beans closely in 

 maturing. Thousands of bushels of green 

 pods are shipped from here to Western 

 markets. They are generally stenciled 

 "Mobile Beans," which name is wrongly ap- 

 plied. Very few of the variety are planted 

 at that place. 



In the way of Cucumbers, the Improved 

 White Spine and New Orleans Market are 

 the best varieties, as they bear abundantly, 

 keep their color better; and are superior for 

 shipping to any other. We have been sup- 

 plying the largest growers in this vicinity in 

 that line with seed, the stock of which can- 

 not be surpassed in quality. Of Beets, only 

 the Dark Red Blood Turnip or the Egyptian 

 should be planted for shipping purposes. The 

 Egyptian is a very quick growing variety, 

 and should not be sown quite so early as the 

 Blood Turnip, which ought to be sown in 

 September and October; for the former 

 variety January is time enough. The strain 

 of Beets which we have been selling for years 

 is raised for us in Connecticut; it is dark red, 

 very early and cannot be surpassed for ship- 

 ping purposes. Several new varieties have 

 come into cultivation, some lighter in color, 

 like the Lentz and Dewings; they are a trifle 

 earlier, but do not come up to the strain of 

 Extra Early Dark Blood Turnip we are sell- 

 ing. The Eclipse is another good variety but 

 is smaller. Also introduced by the late 

 Richard Frotscher. 



For Tomatoes, Extra Early Dwarf comes in 

 bearing first, but should be planted only for 

 the first crop, as when large varieties come in 

 the market the former do not sell as well. 

 Great improvements have been made of late 

 years in Tomatoes; the varieties raised and 

 introduced by Livingston's Sons are perfect, 

 and hardly any improvement can be made on 

 such varieties as the Paragon, Favorite, 

 Acme and Beauty. 



Lettuce is shipped quite extensively; the 

 New Orleans Improved Passion is used prin- 

 cipally, and cannot be excelled for that pur- 

 pose by any other variety. 



The Onion crop is one of the surest and 

 most profitable. From Creole seed, failure to 

 make a crop is almost unknown. 



Early Potatoes pay well. 



Cabbage is by far the most important and 

 profitable crop we have. It is the mainstay 

 of the truck farmer. 



The Musk Melon is also usually a good pay- 

 ing crop. In favorable seasons, when the 

 quality is good, the demand is large and 

 prices high. 



Egg Plants have been, of late years, ship- 

 ped in large quantities. 



Carrots and Turnips ship well, and paying- 

 prices generally to be had. 



Radishes have also proved to be a profit- 

 able shipping crop. 



Gardeners and others who contemplate 

 raising vegetables for shipping are invited to 

 give us a call. From the fact that all staple 

 articles are raised by contract, in such sec- 

 tions best suited to mature the varieties we 

 need for our climate, and the interest we take 

 in the seed business, coupled with a thorough 

 knowledge of the same, enables us to assist 

 in making selections of seed for the purpose. 

 The interest of our customers and ours are 

 identical. Our stock is the best selected and 

 the largest in the South. 



We will fill all orders for fruit trees; a list 

 of the choice leading varieties will be found 

 in this Catalogue. 



We desire to call special attention to Letters 

 on Pecan culture to be found herein. An inter- 

 esting treatise on pecan growing by Mr. 

 Wm. Nelson and price list of budded trees 

 will be sent to all applicants. 



We have a choice lot of Orange trees on Tri- 

 foliata and Sour Stock all sizes and prices ; a list 

 of varieties will be found in this Catalogue. 



We will also fill all orders for plants, trees 

 and shrubs, roses, greenhouse plants, etc. 

 Low prices and satisfaction guaranteed. 



We aim to supply our patrons with every- 

 thing needed for the garden. Seeds, trees, 

 plants, horticultural tools and implements. 

 Money can be saved by having your orders 

 all filled at one house, time gained, and the 

 trouble of sending orders to several different 

 houses avoided. 



Hammers and Anvils for Beating French Blades. 



