15

Dorr's Iowa Seed Manual. 13

Spinach.

Extremely wholesome and palatable. Used for greens. For Summer, sow early in Spring, in deep, rich soil, in drills one foot apart, cover one inch. Sow at intervals of two weeks through the season. For very early Spring use, sow the Winter varieties last of August, and protect by covering with straw.

Per Packet, Five Cents.

Round-Main market sort. Equally good for Spring or Fall. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 20c; lb. 50c.
Flanders-Very productive, large, broad leaves. Oz. 1/4 lb. 20c; lb. 50c.
Savoy Leaved-Leaves wrinkled similar to Savoy Cabbage, produces enormous crops, superior quality, very hardy. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 20c; lb. 50c.
Prickly-Stands well in winter. Gives less bulk per acre than Round. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 20C; lb. 50c.
Viroflay-A very extra variety of lettuce leaved Spinach, leaves long, broad, thick, very fleshy, dark green, grows to an enormous size, and produces wonderful crops. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 20c; lb. 50c.

Squash.
Squashes are all quite tender, therefore no progress can be made in starting them until the weather becomes warm and settled. Except as recommended for cucumbers, the Winter varieties should, however, be planted as early as possible, and a rapid growth encouraged. Treatment the same as for melons and cucumbers. Plant bush varieties three feet apart, others eight.

Per Packet, Five Cents, Except Where Noted.

Yellow Bush Scolloped-Early market variety; fine flavor. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 25c.
White Bush Scolloped-Similar to first, rather better quality. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 25c.
Early Bush Crook-Neck-Splendid summer sort, early, productive; very fine quality. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 25c; lb. 75c.
Boston Marrow-This delicious variety is of a rich orange color all the way through; ovate in form; very thin rind; fine grained; exquisite flavor; although it is a fall sort, it keeps well through the Winter; unexcelled for cooking; it will boil as dry as a potato. Last season squashes raised from our seed were shipped from Iowa to Boston, by the car load, and sold there at the highest market prices. This
fact we mention merely to give you an idea of the superiority of this squash. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 30c; lb. $1.00.
Hubbard-Flesh fine grained, dry, excellent flavor, great keeper. Oz. 10c: 1/4 lb. 30c; lb. $1.00.
Winter Crook-Neck-Old standard sort, good keeper. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 30c; lb. $1.00.
American Turban-Dry, sweet, fine Fall sort. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 30c; lb. $1.00.
Marblehead-Excellent; yields and keeps well. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 30c; lb. $1.00.
Mammoth Chili-Immense size, frequently growing to the weight of 300 lbs. Good for stock and cooking. Oz. 25c; 1/4 lb. 75c; lb. $2.75.
Little Cocoanut-Beautiful, little Fall variety; superior flavor, solid, very fine grained, extremely prolific, quite ornamental. Pkt. 10c; oz. 25c.
Essex Hybrid-Cross between the Turban and Hubbard, combining many good qualities of each, somewhat earlier than either. Pkt. 10c; oz. 25c; 1/4 lb. 75c.
Perfect Gem Squash-This variety, unlike anything before offered, is excellent both as a summer and winter squash. It has all the properties of the best of both classes. It is a vigorous grower and wonderfully productive. Its habits are somewhat peculiar. After setting the squashes near the root, like the bush varieties, it commences to run, and the vines often attain the length of twenty feet, and are very thick and strong, branching in a similar manner to the Ornamental Gourd, and often bearing quite as abundantly. The squashes are from four to six inches in diameter, flattened, of a creamy white color, slightly ribbed, and have a thin smooth skin. The flesh is fine grained, and when cooked is dry,
very sweet, and has a delicious flavor, entirely free from that strong taste common to winter squashes. It is remarkable for its keeping qualities. In a dry,
cool room, free from frost, they may be kept until Spring. In short, is justly entitled to the name given it, being equal to the best bush or marrow squash for summer use, and better than any other for Winter. A good keeper, very productive, a free grower, and worthy a place in every kitchen garden. Pkt. 10c; oz. 35c; 1/4 lb. $1.25.
New Golden Bush-The most magnificent Summer Squash yet brought out. It is thicker, larger and superior in every way to the old varieties. Very early, cannot fail to take the lead in market. Try it. Pkt. 15c; oz. 50c; 1/4 lb. $1.50.

Tobacco.
Early in Spring, burn a brush pile on the ground to be used for seed-bed. Then thoroughly pulverize the soil, digging and mixing in ashes. Sow seed very shallow. When plants are six inches high, transplant into rows four feet apart. Cultivate thoroughly.
Connecticut Seed Leaf-Best adapted to the climate of the Middle and Northern States, as it is more hardy and endures the cold better than the tender varieties grown south. In many of the Northern States, and in Canada, this variety is a staple crop. Pkt. 5c; oz. 25c.
White Burley-Especially desirable for the manufacture of cigars, as the leaf readily absorbs a large quantity of manufacturing material. Pkt. 10c; oz. 40c.
Imported Havana-Pkt. 10c; oz. 75c.

Tomato.

This luscious vegetable is one of the most valuable and popular in the world. Its growth in favor is wonderful, when we stop to consider that but a few years ago the Tomato, or love-apple, as it was then called, was unknown as a table vegetable, and but seldom seen in the garden, where it was grown as an ornament, only, and by many considered as poisonous. It is now produced in immense quantities, and is the most valuable canning vegetable in existence. When the Tomato first found its way into the dining room, it was a poor rough specimen. Not until within the last score of years was there a variety introduced which could be claimed as smooth or symmetrical, and only within a very few years have the radical improvements been brought about which bring the tomato to us in all of its improved types, such as form, size, solidity, color, &c. We attribute the improvements in the Tomato more largely to careful selections than any other agency.
Sow early in Spring in hot-beds or seed-boxes, or for main crop sow in cold frames. Transplant to open ground when all danger of frost is past, six feet apart
each way. Well manured, light sandy soil is best. Our seed is saved from selected fruit, and is extra choice.

Per Packet, Five Cents, Except Where Noted.

President Garfield-This wonderful novelty, which originated in Servia, where it was named, is in many respects the most remarkable Tomato yet produced. It is the largest Tomato we ever saw, many specimens weighing over two pounds. The fruit averages twice the size of the Trophy. It bears immensely. The fruit is a brilliant red, solid, and of the richest flavor. It is a wonderfully rank grower, requiring to be tied up to trellises or poles. The only objection that can be named is its form before it ripens, which is quite uneven, but as the fruit approaches maturity the depressions disappear, until when ripe it is very well formed. In packets only ; each, 25c; 5 for $1.00.
The Mayflower-This splendid variety was sent to us by Mr. Bliss, who thus describes it: "In this new seed­ling variety, which we have the pleasure of introducing this season, all the qualities desirable in a Tomato are combined in a degree not heretofore attained. It is the earliest large Tomato cultivated, ripening but a few days later than "Little Gem," and averaging in size about one-third larger than "Acme." It is of a glossy, bright red color, so desirable in a market Tomato and ripens so evenly and perfectly up to the stem, that it presents a most beautiful appearance. Its shape is perfect, globular, slightly flattened and perfectly smooth; flesh solid, unusually free from seeds, and of a pure, rich flavor. In productiveness it is not excelled by any other sort, bearing full crops until killed by frost. Its skin is firm and smooth, indicative of the best shipping qualities. A box of them which, after having been roughly handled during a long journey, was exhibited by us at the last grand exhibition of the Massachusetts Horticulutural
Society, held at Boston, in connection with the exhibition of the American Pomologlcal Society, and was awarded the first prize as the best seedling." Pkt.
15c; oz. $1.00.