A Report of the New and Improved Vine 
Seed Varieties for 1936 . 
T WO MONTHS among the seed fields at harvest time 
prompts us to write a report of our observations of 
progress in the development of new and improved varieties 
in vine seed. Much information, too, has been secured 
from our trial plantings in California and elsewhere. For 
the most part, we are well pleased with quality in the 
stocks which we are producing. 
Cucumbers 
The Colorado is rapidly gaining in popularity because 
of its excellent shape and color as a market variety. This 
kind is difficult to produce as a seed crop and demand far 
exceeds the supply this season. Straight Eight is in consid¬ 
erable demand and, in our opinion, is a very good sort. It 
has uniform shape, good size and good color in the early 
stages of growth. Vaughan or Longfellow is a truly re¬ 
markable variety. Long and slender at the market stage, 
with a beautiful dark green color. Chicago Pickle and 
National Pickle continue as leaders for pickle use. These 
two kinds along with Snow’s Pickle have given universal 
satisfaction for many years. 
Pickling blends are meeting with some favor among 
the leading houses. It may be that they have merit and 
will continue in use. The common practice is to make a 
mechanical mixture of about 80% of the most desirable 
variety with 10% each of two similar kinds. This combi¬ 
nation gives some variation in type of pickles and covers 
the need of various sizes required for packing. Seed from 
this product should not be reproduced for planting purposes 
as the individual types will eventually be lost through cross 
pollination. It is believed by some that hybridization ex- 
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