WILLIAM EWING & CO.'S SEED CATALOGUE. 
19 
WATER MELON 
— FR. MELON D'EAU 
CULTURE — Light, sandy or gravelly soil is necessary 
for the bept water melons, with a hot sxuiny exposure. 
Treat same as Musk Melon, but they should be 
planted 8 to 10 ft. apart. 
COLE'S E.ARLY — The best ejirly vaiiety and most desirable for northern growing. The vines are of sturdy grow'th and 
very productive. Rind thin and flesh of bright red color, crisp and cf delicate texture, and in flavor it is lusciously 
sweet, i lb. 40c.; oz. 15c.; pkt. 5c 
PHINNEY'S EARLY— One of the earliest sorts. Flesh scarlet, very thin rind, i lb. 40c.; oz. ISc; pkt. Sc. 
PEERLESS or ICE CREA.M — An oblong variety with deep green skin, flesh very solid and sweet; deep pink. J lb. 40c.; 
oz. 15c.; Dkt. 5c. 
MOUNTAIN SWEET — Early; large; dark skin; very solid, red, sweet flesh. A splendid variety for northern gardens. 
} lb. 40c.; oz. 15c.; pkt. 5c. 
CUBAN QUEEN — A very large sort of oblong form. Skin beautifully striped in light and dark green, thin rind; bright 
red firm flesh of luscious quality. J lb. 40c.; oz. ISc; pkt. 5c. 
BLUE GEM or ICEBERG — Melons are uniformly large, with dark skin. Flesh entirely free from stringiness and of a 
beautiful shade of pink, and sweet sugary flavor. \ lb. 40c.; oz. 15c.; pkt. 5c. 
COLORADO PRESERVING CITRON— Excellent for making preserves. } lb. 40c.; oz. 15c.; pkt. 5c. 
FR. MOUTARDE. During Spring and Summer, sowings 
should be made every few days, to provide a continuous supply. 
WHITE— lb. 30c.; i lb. 15c.; oz. lOc; pkt. 5c. 
CHINESE— -Leaves are dark green and large. lb. $1.00; i lb. 30c.; oz. 
lOc; pkt. 5c. 
PICKLING MUSTARD— For flavoring, lb. 20c. 
MUSTARD: 
MUSHROOM— FR. CHAMPIGNON 
When ordered by mail, add 10 cts. per brick and 15c. per box to prices 
of Mushroom Spawn, for postage in the Pom nion. 
FINEST ENGLISH MILLTRACK MUSHROOM SPAWN— Per brick, 15c.; 
per doz. SI.25. (Special prices on large quantities.) 
FRENCH MUSHROOM SPAWN— Loose; in boxes containing 2 lbs. each, 
with full cultural directions. Per box $1.25. 
MUSHROOM CULTURE — Can be successfully grown at any season in either shed oi* 
cellar where a temperature of 45 to 55 degrees can be maintained, and providing the 
place be dry. Procure the quantity necessary oi fresh horse droppings, as free from 
straw as possible, and moist with urine if it can be got that way. Turn this over, say 
3 or 4 times in a week, covering the heap to prevent washing with rain or drying out 
with the sun. To this then add a fourth of its bulk of nice light loamy soil, mixing all 
carefully together. The bed should be made 4 ft. wide and whatever length is re- 
quired. Put twelve inches or so in the bottom of the bed of rough manure tramped 
down, and on top of this 4 to 6 inches of the prepared manure, when the temperature 
has declined to 130, the latter being put on in layers and pressed down firmly and 
MustiroOMi smoothly. Then put pUmks on edge to form a box round the bed and nail firmly 
'' ' ■ together and cover all over with clean hay or straw. 
When the bed thus made registers 90 to 95 degrees a few inches below the surfaf^c, then break a brick of spawn into 12 pieces, and place 
these pieces 1^ inches deep and 8 inches apart. When temperature of bed reaches 85 degrees remove the straw and cover the whole surface 
over with two inches of fine sifted loam, beating it down firmly and smoothly, then put on the covering again. Watering is of the greatest 
importance. If dung was moist when bed was made watering will likely not be necessary till after spawning, but look over the bed weetdy and 
give a thorough watering, with water at a temperature of 95 degrees, when necessary going over the bed twice, using a fine spray. Be sure 
that at the end of six weeks, if the bed shows any signs of drying out, to water thoroughly then, because by watering when the bed is bearing, the 
small mushrooms are liable to damp off. When nrstcropisgathered procure some dry cow manure and mix thoroughly with a little fine soil 
covering the bed over mth half an inch the compost, beating it smooth, and give a good watering then. Mushrooms should ahvayslbe 
picked, not cut. 
OKRA LONG GREEN — oz. 20c.; pkt. 5c. The seed pods of this vegetable are used in soups and stews. 
ONION 
— FR. OIGNON. One ounce will sow 100 feet of drill; or five pounds to the acre is required. 
We tike the greatest care in the selection of our stocks of Onion seed. There are immense quantities of carelessly 
grown and old seed on the market, and though offered extreme!}' low, would be very dear if got for nothing. Our stocM 
of Red Wethersfield and YeUow Danvers have been specially grown for us, and are good and thoroughly reliable. 
CULTURE — Seed .should bo .sown soon as the o:round is fit in early spring, in shallow drills, 9 inches apart. Previous to making the 
drills the ground should be firmly trodden down, and after sowing raked smooth and the drills beaten down with the back of the spade. Thin out 
carefully as the plants grow to G inches apart, leaving only the strongest plants, when large bulbs are wanted, but a heavy crop of fair sized firm 
bulbs can be had by leaving plants '.} inches apart. Pickling onions shoiild be thinned, but very slightly, and in every ca.se onions should be 
pulled and lefton the ground to dry whenever the stalks die down, 
otherwise they are likely to start a second growth if the weather be 
moist. A rich sandy loam is most suitable, but a good crop on clay 
ground can be obtained by planting onion sets, or by sowing seed 
in March in the house, and planting out in drills in May, and on 
suitable soils this latter method will produce bulbs as large as im- 
ported Spanish onions. 
AILS\CRAIQ — A splendid, large, handsome oval-shaped 
Exhibition onion of fine texture and superior flavor. 
Pale straw colored skin. Should be transplanted to 
reach greatest size, i lb. 70c.; oz. 25c.; pkt. 5c. 
EXTRA EARLY RED WETHERSFIELD— Similar to Red 
Wethersfield, but smaller and earlier, lb. $2.25 ; J lb. 
65c.; oz. 25c.; pkt. 5c. 
GIANT PRIZE TAKER— A handsome large yeUow Globe 
Onion. The outside skin is of a rich straw color, while 
the flesh is white and mild. It i,3 an excellent keeper and 
of the same type as the immense imported Onions, lb. 
$2.25; i lb. 65c.; oz. 25c.; pkt. 5c. „ . r„ , ^ . 
(Continued over.) Oiant Prize Taker Onion. 
