CUCUMBER 
I N this latitude it is useless to plant in open ground until nearly the 
first of June. Make hills two feet in diameter and about six feet 
apart, and enrich them with well-rotted manure. Plant a dozen or more 
seeds, covering half an inch deep. When all danger from insects is 
over, pull all but three or four of the strongest plants. The middle of 
June is early enough to plant for pickling. For early Cucumbers 
the hotbed is necessary; but the simplest and surest way to produce a 
tolerably early crop of the best kinds is to dig a hole about eighteen 
inches deep and three feet across; into this put a barrow of manure, 
and cover with a small box-like frame, on the top of which place a 
couple of lights of glass. These places can be prepared about five or 
six feet apart. Keep the earth drawn up to the stems. Water and 
give air. As long as fruit for the table is desired, do not let them go 
to seed, as this impairs the fruiting of the vine. Two specimens 
allowed to form seed will do more harm than two dozen for the table 
or pickling. Some of the smaller kinds are usually preferred for pick¬ 
ling, but Long Green is excellent for this purpose when young, and 
some pickling houses use White Spine exclusively. Use one ounce 
for fifty hills, and two pounds per acre when planted in hills. 
The Foreign Varieties are of fine quality and of wonderful size, 
two feet or more in length, but they require a hotbed to help them 
along until the weather is warm. In Europe they are grown in glass 
houses. 
Packet, 5 cents; oz., 15 cents; lb., $1.50; 
except as noted. 
Lemon Cucumber. Sec Novelty Pages. 
VicK’s Perfection Wbite Spine 
This most valuable strain is grown from stock seed produced on our own farm 
at Despatch, our selections being made from only the choicest and most perfect 
fruits. It excels in earliness, no other strain of the many varieties we have tested 
being equal to it. In shape and uniformity of size, in color and productiveness, it 
has no rival. For forcing it is preferred to all others, except, perhaps, the 
forcing sorts; while for small pickles it is the very best White Spine Cucumber 
in cultivation. Packet, 5 cents ; oz., 15 cents; lb., $1.75. 
Improved Early White Spine, a well-known standard variety, very 
popular in all sections of the country. One of the best for the table. Flesh tender 
and crisp. Fruit uniform in size, straight and dark green, with few white spines. 
Cool and Crisp. A strain of the White Spine, but longer and more cylindrical. 
Very early and exceedingly prolific. While it is esteemed most highly as a pick¬ 
ling sort, it is one of the very best for slicing, being tender, crisp, and of fine flavor. 
Packet, 5 cents; oz., 20 cents ; lb., $2.00. 
Improved Long Green 
inches in length, of most excellent quality, and when young makes the best of 
pickles. When ripe it is the best of any for sweet pickles. Vines vigorous and 
very productive. Our strain of this valuable sort is unsurpassed by any. Packet, 
5 cents ; oz., 25 cents ; lb., $2.50. 
Extra Early Long Green. This strain of the I.ong Green is much earlier 
than the preceding, coming into use as early as the White Spine. The carlincss, 
combined with its extra large size, makes it quite desirable for the market gar¬ 
dener. Packet, 5 cents ; oz., 25 cents ; lb., $2.50. 
Giant Pera. This is the smoothest and handsomest Cucumber grown. It is a 
selection of the Long Green type, fifteen to eighteen inches in length, straight, 
tender, crisp, of excellent flavor, and with no trace of bitterness. The seed 
cavity is very small, and the seeds slow to form. Packet, 5 cents; oz., 
25 cents ; lb., $2.50. 
Vick s Early Chinese. A variety of Cucumber remarkable for earliness, being 
two weeks earlier than other varieties. It is from one to two feet long, and of 
splendid quality. Color light green, turning to creamy white when ripe. Packets 
only, 10 cents. 
White Pearl. This variety is by far the best of the white sorts. Ripens early 
and is very productive. Good for forcing, and quile attractive for table use. 
Packet, 5 cents ; oz., 20 cents ; lb., $2.00. 
CUCUMBER, COOL AND CRISP 
CUCUMBER. EARLY CHINESE 
C UC U M B E R, EM ERALI> 
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