JAMES VICK’S SONS, ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
VEGETABLE SEEDS 
21 
MUSHROOMS 
Mushrooms can be grown in any dark room or cellar, where the temperature can 
be maintained at 50 0 to 6o°. From old pastures procure the soil, and store it away. 
To one bushel of this soil add two bushels of fresh horse manure. Of this well- 
mixed compound prepare a bed, say four feet wide. Put down a thin layer and 
pound it down hard, and go on until you have a bed eight inches thick. It will soon 
become pretty hot, but let the heat recede until it is only 85° or 90°. Then make 
holes, say a foot apart, and put in the spawn, two or three pieces as large as a 
walnut in each hole. Cover the holes and press the soil solid and smooth. Let 
the bed remain in this condition about twelve days; then cover it with two 
inches of fresh loam, and over this place four or five inches of hay or straw, and the 
work is done. If the temperature is right, in six or eight weeks you may expect 
Mushrooms. The bed will continue bearing from twenty to thirty days. After the 
first crop is gathered, spread over the bed an inch of fresh soil, moisten with warm 
water, and cover with hay as before. Success is not always certain with the ama¬ 
teur, and is usually to be attained only after more or less experience. One pound 
of spawn is enough for a bed 3x6 feet. 
Mushroom Spawn, English. One pound, by mail, 25 cents ; eight 
lbs., by express, not prepaid, $1.00. 
.If these prices tee prepay postage or earpress charges 
unless otherwise noted . 
MUSHROOMS 
MUSKMELON, ROCKY FORD 
MUSKMELON, EMERALD GEM 
Cosmopolitan. One of the pre’ttiest of the green-fleshed Melons. Fruit 
slightly oval, without ribs; light green in color, covered at maturity with dense 
silver-gray netting. Fesh green, firm, sweet, and highly flavored. Packet, 
5 cents ; oz., 15 cents ; % lb., 35 cents ; lb., $1.25. 
Banquet, a mediu m-sized variety, nearly round, flattened at the ends, densely 
netted : flesh dark rich salmon, uniformly thick, flavor unsurpassed, rivaling the 
Netted Gem. One of the best red-fleshed sorts. 
Vicks Prolific Nutmeg. We have yet to find a green-fleshed Muskmelon 
more satisfactory than the “ Prolific Nutmeg." In these three most important 
characteristics, viz.. Earliness , Quality , Productiveness , it stands at the head 
of the list. The vines are hardy and vigorous. Fruit medium size, round, slightly 
flattened at both ends, ribbed, with distinct netting; flesh green, thick, solid, and 
of delicious, spicy flavor. 
Surprise. This old variety is still highly esteemed. Fruit nearly round, but 
slightly lobed and netted; skin yellowish white; flesh deep salmon color, very 
sweet and high-flavored. 
Rocky Ford. This has become one of the most popular of the small Melons, 
being extensively grown and shipped in car-loads to all the larger markets. It 
is one of the finest early Melons, and one of the best for market gardener^ and 
shippers as well as for the home garden. It is oval in shape, slightly ribbed, 
and covered with a coarse netting. The flesh is thick, green in color, very 
sweet and juicy, and solid clear to the rind. 
Emerald Gem. The fruit of this really pretty Melon is small to medium, 
globular in form, flattened at the blossom and stem ends; skin smooth and 
slightly ribbed. It shows a rich emerald green color with narrow stripes of a light 
green in the ribs. Flesh very thick, ripening close to the rind, of a deep, rich, 
salmon color, deliciously flavored and of superior quality. The fruit should be 
picked as soon as it will separate readily from tbc vine, and kept in a cool place 
until needed. If left on the vine the skin becomes yellow, and the flesh soft and 
tasteless. Packet, 5 cents ; oz., 20 cents; lb., 50 cents ; lb., $1.75. 
Paul Rose or Petosky. This new sort has given perfect satisfaction to all 
growers, both for market and home garden. It is a cross between the Osage 
and the Netted Gem, combining the sweetness of the former with tbc fine gray 
netting of the latter, making it a handsome Melon. The fruit averages about 
five inches in diameter, and is oval in form. The flesh is thick and firm, a det p 
salmon or orange color; most delicious and appetizing. 11 is a fine shipping 
variety, and is sought after in all the leading markets of the country. Packet, 
5 cents ; oz., 15 cents ; lb., 35 cents ; lb., $1.20. 
Golden Netted Gem. A small extra early variety maturing at same time 
as Jenny Lind. It is very uniform in size, handsomely netted, and of globular 
shape. Flesh a light green, and possesses the spicy flavor so much desired in the 
Muskmelon. A popular variety with market gardeners everywhere. 
Jenny Lind. This is one of the oldest varieties of Muskmelon. The fruit is 
small and round, flat on both ends, deeply lobed, and finely netted. The flesh is 
green and luscious. It comes into market first of all. Packet, 5 cents ; oz., 
15 cents ; y x lb., 35 cents ; lb., $1.20. 
OTHER STANDARD VARIETIES OF MUSKMELON, 
. nd also a few new sorts, which we can supply at the uniform price of *4 ounce, 
5 cents ; oz., 10 cents ; y lb., 30 cents ; lb., $1.00. 
Baltimore or Acme, Christiana Melrose, 
C olden Eagle, Princess, Tip Top. 
