22 
MATS CATALOGUE OF NORTHERN GROWN SEEDS, BULBS, PLANTS AND FRUITS. 
MAY'S SELECTED STRAINS OF CUCUMBERS. 
WONDH 
Prices quoted on Cucumbers include 
the prepayment of postage by us. If 
wanted by express or freight, deduct 10 
cents per pound. By express or freight 
always means purchaser pays trans- 
portation charges. Sow 1 ox. to 50 
hills ; 3 to 3 lbs. in hills to the acre. 
Cucumbers. 
German — Curfe. French — Concombre 
Swedish — Gurka. Spanish — Cohombro. 
CULTURE. — Cucumbers need a warm 
sandy soil, and should not be planted 
in open ground until the weather is 
settled and warm, as they will not 
thrive until the ground is thoroughly 
warmed. Sprinkle the young plants 
with fine ashes, plaster or air-slacked 
lime to protect them from bugs. Plant 
a dozen seeds to a hill, covering half an inch deep. After the plants are 
started, pull all but three or four of the strongest. The middle of June is 
early enough to plant for pickling. Make the hills about six feet apart. For 
early cucumbers the hotbed is necessary, but the simplest and surest way to 
produce a tolerable early crop of the best- kind is, where it is designed to 
place a hill, dig a hole about eighteen inches deep and three feet across; into 
this put a barrow of fresh manure and cover with a small box-like frame, 
on the top of which place a couple of lights of glass. When the plants 
grow keep the earth drawn up to the stems. Water and give air. As fast §M 
1 as the cucumbers attain a suitable size, they should, be taken from the vine, JH 
whether required for use or not, as their ripening soon destroys the vine'Sjg 
fruitfulness. 
WHITE WONDER. — (See cut.) A splendid white variety. The vines 
are vigorous and rapid in growth, thus enabling it to produce a large crop, 
even under the most adverse circumstances. The cucumbers are an ivory 
white in color, of good keeping quality, and 
average about 8 inches in length by 2% inch- 
es through. It is a sure cropper. Pkt. 5c, oz. 
15e, % lb. 50c, lb. $1.75. 
GIANT PERA. — (See cut.) Our illustration 
is an exact representation of this wonderful 
variety. The cucumbers are long, smooth and 
of a beautiful green color. Unlike most 
sorts, they are lit to eat at any stage. The 
flesh is white, clear, crisp, tender and brittle. 
Often measuring over 20 inches in length. Pkt. 10c, oz. 15c, 
% lb. 45c, lb, $1.60. 
COOL AND CRISP — (See cut.) One of the earliest and 
most productive^ of all pickling cucumbers. At the pickling 
stage they are straight, long, even and slim, of a dark green 
color. While it is one of the best pickling varieties, it is 
also excellent for slicing. Pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, % lb. 40c, lb. $1.50. 
LIVINGSTON'S EVERGREEN.— Very early and prolific. 
Retains its fine green color at all stages of growth. Pkt. 5e, 
oz. 15c, % lb. 35c, lb. $1.30. 
EARLY SHORT GREEN Good 
for pickling. Fruit bright green; 
very productive. Pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, V± 
lb. 40c, lb. $1.30. 
LEMON. — For description see list of 
specialties. „ 
EARLY FRAME — 
May's Favorite Pickling. j 
MAY'S FAVORITE PICKLING. — (See cut.) The best of all 
cucumbers for pickling purposes. For years we experimented 
with all the varieties of different cucumbers recommended for 
pickling purposes, testing them by the side of our "Favorite," 
but found none that equaled it either in yield or quality. lit 
form it is solid and rather thick, flesh is crisp and exceedingly 
tender although very firm. Taking all together it is about as 
near perfection for pickling purposes as a cucumber can be. We 
heartily recommend it to all our friends who desire a choice 
pickle, and know that thousands of our patrons who purchase 
it each year will gladly endorse our recommendation. Pkt. 10c,, 
oz. 20c, % lb. 60c, lb. $2.00. 
Standard Varieties of Cucumbers. 
ARLINGTON WHITE SPINE. — The trucker's favorite. Very 
early; color deep green. Pkt. 5c, oz. 15e, % lb. 40c. lb. 
BOSTON PICKLING. — Extensively used for pickling pur- 
poses. Color bright green. Pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, % lb. 50e, lb. $1.60. 
CUMBERLAND. — For description see list of specialties. 
CHICAGO OR WESTERFIELD PICKLING. — The fruit is of 
medium length. Pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, % lb. 40c, lb. $1.30. 
EARLY RUSSIAN. — An extra early short variety, valuable 
for pickles. Pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, % lb. 40e, lb. $1.30. 
EMERALD. — Makes excellent pickles. Color dark green, 
Pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, % lb. 50c. lb. $1.60. 
Fruit medium size,, fine for table use. Pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, % lb. 40c P 
Pkt. 5c, oz. 
i lb. 
Long and crisp. Pkt. 
color, tender and 
lb. $1.30. 
GREEN PROLIFIC— One of the best for pickling. Color dark green. 
15c, % lb. 50c, lb. $1.60. 
JERSEY PICKLING. — A long, slender sort; fine for pickling. Pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, % lb, 
40c, lb. $1.40. *' r" • , , 
LONG GREEN IMPROVED. — A favorite variety for pickles. 
5c, oz. 15c, % lb. 50c, lb. $1.60. - . , ' . 
MEDIUM GREEN. — Grown for slicing or pickles. Rich green 
crisp. Pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, % lb. 50c, lb. $1.60. 
MAY'S PEERLESS. — The gardener's favorite. It is early, fine quality and an enor- 
mous cropper, in fact everything that goes to make a good cucumber. Pkt. 10c, oz. 
20c, % lb. 60c, lb. $2.00. 
EARLY PRIZE. — (See cut.) The 
greatest forcing cucumber ever offered. 
Extra early, a prolific bearer, a vigor- 
ous grower and of splendid shape and 
ouality. That's exactly the description 
given by one who has grown it for the 
early market. It is a most excellent 
sort for either pickling or table use, 
and its earliness at once recommends it 
to all who wish an early cucumber. Pkt. 
10c. oz. 20c. i/i lb. 60c, lb. $2.00. 
EARLY CLUSTER. — (See cut.) A vig- 
orous growing variety usually produc- 
ing the bulk of the crop near the root 
and in clusters. It is a good table va- 
riety and very excellent for pickling 
purposes. Fruit short, dark green, bu1 
paler at the blossom end. Pkt. 5c, oz 
15c, V 4 lb. 35c, lb. $1.30. 
MAY'S GARDEN GEM. — (See cut.) 
The finest cucumber for slicing. II 
surpasses all other kinds for beauty, 
flavor and shape, being quite long, 
thick through, has a fine flesh and few 
seeds. For general crop, to come in 
after our great forcing variety, "Early 
Prize," it is undoubtedly the most desir- 
able sort that can be secured. Pkt. 10c, 
oz. 20c, % lb. 60c, lb. $2.00. Early Cluster. 
