D. M. Ferry <&. Cos Descriptive Catalogue. 
25 
CUCUMBER. 
Fr. Concombre. —Ger. Gurkcn. 
This is one of those vegetables which can be grown to 
perfection by anyone who can control a few square yards 
of soil which is fully exposed to the sun, and the fruit is 
so much better when gathered fresh from the vines than 
it is when obtained in the market, that every family 
should be supplied from its own yard. 
Culture. — The plants arc tcnder,and planting should 
be delayed until settled warm weather, or ample facili¬ 
ties are provided for protecting them from frosts and 
during cold storms. Form low, flat hills six feet apart 
each way, of rich soil , by mixing in a quantity of 
thoroughly decomposed manure, stirring the soil to a 
depth of sixteen inches or more ; or open shallow trench¬ 
es the same distance apart and mix with the bottom 
earth a quantity of similar manure and replace the sur¬ 
face soil. Scatter on each hill fifteen or twenty seeds, 
or one every inch along the rows, and cover one inch 
deep, pressing the soil firmly over them. 
As soon as the plants are up, they will be liable to 
attack by the striped cucumber beetle. These may be 
kept off by frequent dusting with air-slacked lime, soot, 
or sifted ashes diluted with fine road earth ; care should 
be taken not to use too much, for if too strong, any of 
the above materials will kill the vines. When the plants 
are well established, thin to three plants to each hill. 
In gathering, pick all the fruit before it begins to ripen, 
as the vines will cease setting fruit as soon as any seed 
commences to mature. In field culture, plow furrows 
four feet apart across the field, and similar ones, but 
omitting every fourth furrow, at right angles to the first; 
this will form paths for the distribution of manure and 
the gathering of the fruit. At each intersection drop a 
shovelful or more of ivell rotted manure, which should 
be ivell mixed with the soil, so as to form a low flat hill. 
In gathering for pickles, cut the stem, instead of pulling 
the fruit off, and be careful not to mar the fruit in any 
way, for if the skin is broken, the pickles will not keep. 
Early Russian. — Earliest and hardiest. Vines vig¬ 
orous and productive. Fruit three to four inches long, 
small, oval, pointed at each end, covered with fine small 
spines. 
Early Cluster.-Vines vigorous,producing the bulk of 
the crop near the root and in clusters. Fruit short, hold¬ 
ing full size to each end, dark green but paler at blossom 
end. Good for table use but not adapted to pickling. 
Improved Long Green. 
from the long Green. Vines vigorous and produc¬ 
tive, forming fruit fit for the table nearly as early as 
the shorter sorts; fruit about twelve inches long, firm 
and crisp, with very few seeds. The young fruit makes 
one of th*e best of pickles, and when ripe is the best of 
any for sweet pickles. 
Long Green.—Fruit shorter than the above, and 
makes a good pickle, but is less crisp and tender. 
D. M. F. & Co's Perfection Pickling. 
D. M. Ferry & Co’s Perfection Pickling.—This 
variety is not only the best for pickles, but is one of the 
best for the table. Vines vigorous, producing their 
fruit early and very abundantly ; fruit of very distinct 
form, having three distinct ribs; color dark green,which 
they retain as pickles ; flesh very crisp and tender. 
Boston Pickling, or Green Prolific.—A distinct 
variety very popular for pickles. Fruit short, nearly 
cylindrical but pointed at each end, bright green, and a 
great producer. 
Gherkin, for Pick¬ 
ling.—A very small, 
oval shaped, prickly, 
variety, having some¬ 
what the appearance 
of a burr. It is grown 
exclusively for pick¬ 
ling ; is the smallest 
of all the varieties, 
and should always be 
pickled when young 
and tender. The seed is slow to germinate. 
Gherkin. 
Early Short Green or Early Frame. 
Early Short Green, or Early Frame. — Plants very 
vigorous and productive. Fruit straight, handsome, 
smaller at each end, bright green, lighter at the blossom 
end,with crisp, tender flesh, and makes excellent pickles 
when young. 
Early White Spine. — One of the best sorts for table 
use. Vines vigorous, fruiting early and abundantly ; 
fruit uniformly straight and handsome, light green with 
a few white spines ; flesh tender and of excellent flavor. 
Bismark.—A cross between the White Spine and 
Long Green ; established by careful selection. Fruit 
long, cylindrical, very handsome and constant in form 
and color, dark green, with few spines ; flesh very crisp 
and tender. 
Improved Long Green. — Produced by selection 
EGG PLANT. 
Fr. Aubergine .— Ger Eierpflanze. 
The Egg Plant, when well grown and properly cooked, 
is a delicious vegetable, and it should find a place in 
every garden. 
Culture. — The seed germinates slowly, and should 
be started in strong heat, for in this, as in all sub-tropi¬ 
cal plants, it is of importance to secure a rapid and 
continuous growth from the first, the plants never re¬ 
covering from a check received when young. When 
the plants have formed two rough leaves, transplant to 
three or four inches apart. Keep the bed closed and 
very warm, shading from the direct ravsof the sun, and 
giving abundance of water until the ground is warm 
and all danger not only from frost, but from cold nights- 
is past; then harden off the plants by gradual exposure 
to the sun and air, and decrease the supply of water, 
then carefully transplant into very warm, rich soil, set¬ 
ting the plants two and a hall feet apart. If needed, 
shade the young plants and protect them from the po¬ 
tato bug which is very fond of them, and if not pre¬ 
vented, will soon destroy the young plants. 
