VEGETABLE SEEDS ■ Beckert's Seed Store, 101 and 103 Federal St.. N. S., Pittsburgh, Pa. 



THE CHOICEST CUCUMBERS 



Every Harden, no matter how small, should have its own pickle patch. Cucumber vines are easily restricted to small space where they will 

 yield surprising quantities of fruits, pros iding a lew easily lollowed suggestions are kept in mind. 



Cucumber-; are warmth-lining plants, ami seed-, should not In- planted until the weather has become thoroughly warm and settled. They 

 prefer a iight, mellow soil, well enriched, in hills. The Cucumber plants have a very compact root system and straight tap-root* that go right 

 down into the hills, hence any fertilizer scattered about the top is wasted. 



Sow seeds any time alter Decoration Day, in hills about 3 feet apart each way, scattering about H to 10 seeds to a hill, and cover then 

 lightly. As soon as seedlings appear, be on the lookout for the little Striped beetle which is a ravenous feeder and will destroy a Cucumber 

 patch within a week if not combated. Slug-Shot is perhaps the most popular remedy to sprinkle on the seedling plants. When these form the 

 third pair of leaves, the danger of insect pests is generally past, and trie plants should be reduced to three of the strongest per hill. From the 

 time that the vines begin to run, to the time you begin gathering the Cucumbers, tin- patch should be disturbed as little as possible. 



For a succession, seeds of pickling varieties may Le sown at intervals of two weeks up to middle of J uly. The large-growing varieties, like 

 Davis Perfect ami Fordhook Famous, do best during the early spring and cool fall months. If fruits are gathered regularly and before they 

 turn yellow, the s ines ssill continue to bear during a long period. One ounce of seed will plant about 100 hills. 



WHITE SPINE TYPE 



In this class sve find the most 

 popular varieties since they are 

 suitable for both slicing and 

 grosving pickles. The sorts 

 olFcred below vary largely in 

 season and bearing and size of 

 fruit. Early Fortune is per- 

 haps the most symmetrical of 

 the medium-sized sorts. 



Arlington, or Improved 

 White Spine. Very prolific 

 and early; fruit large and 

 smooth, much used for forcing, 

 but equally desirable for out- 

 door culture. Pkt. 10 cts., 

 oz. 15 cts., '/jib. 45 cts. 



Cool and Crisp. Fruit long 

 and cylindrical; dark green; 

 earlv and productive. Pkt. 

 10c, oz. 15c, y 4 lb. 40c. 



Extra-Long, or Evergreen 

 White Spine. Smooth, dark 

 green, attaining a length of 10 



to 12 inches. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., l /dh. 45 cts. 



Forcing White Spine. A selected strain of White Spine partic- 

 ularly adapted for culture under glass. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 75 cts. 



EARLY FORTUNE. Fruit very dark green, cylindrical in 

 shape, and about 7 inches long. Flesh thick, fine-grained, crisp, and 

 of fine quality-. Early and very productive. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 

 cts., y 4 lb. 50 cts. 



SORTS BEST FOR SLICING 



Davis Perfect. Fruit long and slim; color rich, dark glossy green, 

 retaining this color until nearly ripe; flesh tender, crisp, and of fine 

 flavor. Very early and a fine forcer. A splendid market variety. 

 Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., '/ 4 lb. 50 cts. 



Fordhook Famous. Fruits long, smooth, and dark green; very 

 productive. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., V 4 Ib. 50 cts. 



Improved Long Green. The leading long sort, and excellent for 

 pickles. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 15 cts., V 4 lb. 45 cts. 



Japanese Climbing. Fruits almost straight, large and from 12 to 

 16 in. long; skin dark green; flesh thick. A profitable variety to 

 plant as it can be trained on walls and trellises. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 20 

 cts., 1 / 4 lb. 60 cts. 



PICKLING VARIETIES 



These differ from the White 

 Spine type in that plants are of a 

 more compact habit of growth, 

 forming more leaf joints and 

 bearing fruits of a shorter or 

 more blocky shape. The plants 

 are of exceedingly free-flower- 

 ing habit, and, there being an 

 abundance of pollen available, 

 the young fruits are set quite 

 freely. Where the object is am 

 abundance of small pickles, the 

 five varieties listed below de- 

 serve your preference. Where 

 Cucumbers are wanted for slic- 

 ing and pickling, any of the 

 White Spines described oppo-- 

 site should be grown. 



Early Green Prolific, or 

 Boston Pickling. The name 

 well describes this variety. It 

 is one of the most free bear- 

 Early Green Prolific, or Boston Pickling in g of a " pickling Cucumbers,. 



and the fruits are of very sym- 

 metrical shape at all stages. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., y 4 lb. 45 cts. 



Everbearing. One of the best producers of large quantities of 

 handsome pickles. If picked regularly, vines will bear a long time. 

 Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., '/ 4 lb. 45 cts. 



Jersey Pickling. Wonderfully productive; deep green; small and 

 very uniform in size. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., y 4 lb. 45 cts. 



Snow's Perfection Pickle. Shorter' than Jersey or Westerfield 

 Pickle; broad and tapering. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 15 cts., y 4 lb. 45 cts. 



Nichols' Medium Green. Fruit medium size, straight, and 

 smooth; flesh crisp and tender. A very prolific variety. Pkt. 10 cts., 

 oz. 15 cts., l/ 4 lb. 40 cts. 



West India Gherkin. Small, rough, prickly fruits, used for 

 pickling. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 20 cts., '/ 4 lb. 50 cts. 



ENGLISH FRAME CUCUMBERS 



These varieties are grown in hotbeds or houses where the temper- 

 ature does not fall below 65 degrees at night. The fruits are long, arid 

 handsome, frequently growing 20 to 30 inches long. 

 Improved Telegraph Tender and True 



Chennell's Challenger Worthing Favorite 



Lockie's Perfection Covent Garden Favorite 



Each, per pkt. of 10 seeds, 25 cts.; pkt. of 25 seeds, 50 cts.; 

 100 seeds, $1.75 



Davis Perfect Cucumber 



