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



The Choicest Cucumbers 



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

 \ ielcl surprising quantities of fruits, providing a few easily followed suggestions are kept in mind. 



Cucumbers are warmth-loving plants, and seeds should not be planted until the weather has become thoroughly warm and settled. They 

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

 down into the hills, hence any lertili/er scattered about the lop is wasted. 



Sow seeds any time alter Decoration Day, in hills about 5 feet apart each way, scattering about 8 to 10 seeds to a hill, and cover them 

 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 popidar remedy to sprinkle on the seedling planls. When these form the 

 third pair of leaves, t he danger of insect pest s is generally past , and t he plants should be reduced lot hrec of t he si longest per hill. From the 

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



For a succession, seeds ol pickling varieties may be sown at intervals of two weeks up to middle of July . The large-growing varieties, like 

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

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



White Spine Type 



In this class we find the most 

 popular varieties since they are 

 suitable for both slicing and 

 growing pickles. The sorts 

 offered below vary largely in 

 season and bearing and size of 

 fruit. Early Fortune, as illus- 

 trated below, is perhaps the 

 most symmetrical of the me- 

 dium-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. 5 cts., 

 oz. 15 cts., '/41b. 45 cts. 



Cool and Crisp. Fruit long 

 and cylindrical; dark green; 

 early and productive. Pkt. 

 5 cts., oz. 15 cts., Hlb. 40 cts. 



Extra-Long, or Evergreen 

 White Spine. Smooth, dark 

 green, attaining a length of 10 

 to 12 inches. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 15 cts 



Forcing White Spine 



Early Green Prolific 



V 4 lb. 45 cts. 



A selected strain of White Spine partic- 

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



Earlv Fortune ^ ee ''! ustr . alion -) 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. 5 cts., oz. 15 cts., Vilb. 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. 5 cts., oz. 15 cts., y 4 lb. 50 cts. 



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

 productive. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 15 cts., Vilb. 50 cts. 



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

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



Pickling Varieties 



These differ from the White 

 Spine type in that plants areof a 

 more compact habit of growth, 

 forming more leaf joints and 

 bearing fruits of a shorter or 

 more block.v 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 an 

 abundance of small pickles, the 

 four varieties listed below de- 

 serve your preference. Where 

 Cucumbers are wanted for 

 both slicing and pickling, any 

 sort of the White Spine type 

 described opposite should be 

 grown. 



Early Green Prolific, or 

 Boston Pickling. The name 

 well describes this variety. It 

 is one of the most freely bear- 

 ing of all pickling Cucumbers, 

 and the fruits are of very symmetrical and attractive shape at all 

 stages. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 15 cts., V^b. 45 cts. 



Everbearing. One of the best producers of large quantities of 

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

 Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 15 cts., y 4 lb. 45 cts. 



Jersey Pickling. Wonderfully productive; deep green; small and 

 very uniform in size. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 15 cts., '/jib. 45 cts. 



Snow's Perfection Pickle. Shorter than Jersey or Westerfield 

 Pickle; broad and tapering. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 15 cts., Vilb. 45 cts. 



Other Good Kinds 



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

 smooth; flesh crisp and tender. A very prolific variety. Pkt. 5 cts., 

 oz. 15 cts., y 4 lb. 40 cts. 



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

 16 in. long; skin dark green; flesh thick. Pkt. 5c, oz. 20c, yib. 60c. 



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

 ling. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 20 cts., y 4 lb. 60 cts. 



ing 



Early Fortune Cucumber. Good for all purposes 

 21 



