^BRIM^ «?> ^/ONt\r Class fc?.i.^:X^ Number JfS3i... Volume 3. . .^W.X Source \S^a>>Aaaa.4 ... va»\ Accession No \.S"*V^5". Bulletin 99 March, 1903 NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION A SELECTED LIST OF Vegetables for the Garden Trial Grounds of Vegetables at the N. H. College. BY F. WM. KANE NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS DURHAM NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION DURHAM, N. H. BOARD OF CONTROL Hon. JOHN G. TALLANT, Chairman, Pembroke. Hon. GEORGE A. VVASON, New Boston. CHARLES W. STONE, A. M., Secretary, Andover. Pres. CHARLES S. MURKLAND, ex-officio, Durham, THE STATION COUNCIL FRED W. MORSE, M. S., Vice- Director and Chemist. CHARLES H. PETTEE, A. M., C. E., Meteorologist. HERBERT H. LAMSON, M. D., Bacteriologist. CLARENCE M. WEED, D. Sc, Entomologist. FRANK WM. RANE, B. Agr., M. S., Horticulturist. *HARRY HAYWARD, M. S., Agriculturist. ASSISTANTS HARRY F. HALL, Assistant Horticulturist. ALBERT F. CONRADI, M. S., Assistant Entomologist. LUCIAN A. HILL, A. B., Assistant Chemist. FREDERICK C. KEITH, Clerk. ♦Resigned March 12, 1903. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE EXPERIMENT STATION'S SELECTED LIST OF VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN F. WM. KANE The vegetables in the following list are recommended as being from our experience the best varieties for general use. We have grown large numbers of varieties each year of the differ- ent kinds of vegetables, and it is not an easy matter to select two or three and say that these are superior to others. The great majority of people, however, are interested only in know- ing which are the best two or three, and we are constantly asked to recommend what we think is the best list for general use. In order to give something definite, and believing that there is a need for such information, we have gone over our results from experimentation and offer in the following pages a short list only of what we are willing to call the New Hampshire Experiment Station list of vegetables for best success in market gardening or the home garden. From a careful study and handling the following varieties are giving us the best satisfaction. Under other circumstances we might vary our list, but believe no one can make a mistake in following the one herein recommended. The assistant horticulturist, Mr. H. F. Hall, was engaged in market gardening before coming to the college, and as his ex- perience with reference to markets, together with the results derived from testing large numbers of varieties of each kind of vegetables here at the experiment station, is embodied in the following list, we believe it contains the information desired. The vegetables are arranged alphabetically or similarly to the arrangement adopted by seed firms in their catalogues. 26 VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN BEANS GREEN-POD BUSH Giant Stringless Green-Pod Valentine. — Of recent introduc- tion; vines are productive and strong in growth. Pods long (5 to 6 in.), curved, nearly rouud, creased between the beans, ^^9B ^^H^ i»^ C 'c/ Ml U \ * ( "t I Fig. 2— Giant Stringless Green- Pod Valentine Beans. color light green, stringless, flesh of pod not extremely solid. We have had this variety under test the two past seasons, and believe we can now safely recommend it as one of the most profitable green-pod varieties for market. Season medium to early. Stringless Green-Pod. — Plants medium in growth; hardy and prolific. Slightly affected with rust the past season. Pods 4 to 5 in. long, round and fleshy, with crease along the back, Fig. 3.— Stringless Green-Pod. color dark green, not entirely stringless; will remain in edible condition a long time. Seed medium in size, oval, color choco- late brown. An excellent market variety. VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN 27 Early Six Weeks. — Vines large, vigorous, and productive. Pods long (5 to 7 in), straight, and flat, color light green; quality fair when pods are quite young. Valuable on account o ^BB^f pmm *TJ HHfcfeh^_ BPB^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^WBB M -—-^^m^ froYJtt Sit Hl.i /\Z' K, Fig. 4.— Early Six Weeks Beans. of being early and hardy. Seed large kidney shaped, color dull yellow. Dwarf Horticultural. — Plants strong growers and produc- tive. Somewhat inclined to rust, especially when planted, too closely in the row. We recommend this variety for green shell- ing. Pods and beans striped and mottled with scarlet. WAX BEANS, BUSH Ward weir s Kidney Wax. — Very hardy and prolific, practi- cally free from rust. Pods large, 5 to 7 in. long, flat, light yellow, quality good. As shown in cut, pods have the peculiar Fig. 5.— Ward well's Kidney Wax Beans. characteristic of curving forward. Season medium early. Seed large kidney shaped, white with dark markings around the 28 VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN eye. We prefer this variety among wax beans for market or home use. It is a heavy producer. Currie's Rust- Proof Wax. — Early and productive. As nearly rust-proof as any wax pod variety. Pods 5 to 6 in. long, straight, flat; color waxy yellow; quality medium to good, if — E Mi. ■^^^ ^^^^^^^^^BOH^BHW^^^^^B^^B ■ CriVtit 's AV-7 Prrel Fig. 6.— Currie's Rust-Proof Beans. picked as soon as they reach market size, after which stage they quickly mature and become stringy. Seed kidney shaped, color purplish black. Market Wax (new from Henderson). — Vines large and free from rust. Pods large, straight, flat (5 to 6 in. long), color Fig. 7.— Market Wax Beans. bright yello*w; stringless; quality fair to good. Very prolific and promising. Seed medium in size, oval, yellowish brown. LIMA BEANS Bush Lima Beans. — On account of its fine table qualities the lima bean is fast becoming a popular and profitable market VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN 29 crop. Owing to the ease of planting and cultivating the bush is generally preferred to the pole varieties. The small, early varieties, such as Henderson's Bush, or Sieva, we consider more reliable, and bring a better price in the market than the larger sorts, such as Burpee's Bush. Fig. 8.— Bush Beans in a Young Orchard. Experiment Station Grounds. BEETS Eclipse. — Shape globular, color dark red, quality excellent, being fine grained and sweet. Very early, maturing only a few days later than the Egyptian. We believe this to be the lead- ing variety for early bunching or later cutting for market. Crosby's Egyptian. — Shape flattened, desirable for bunching or cutting when small; but almost worthless for market when matured, owing to its irregular appearance. Color deep red, tops small and dark. We recommend it for its value as an extremely early, but not for fall or winter use. Arlington Favorite. — Size medium, nearly round, color very dark red, quality good, tops large. Not equal to the Eclipse or Egyptian for early bunching or cutting, but valuable for later use, owing to the fact that it does not become overgrown as quickly as most varieties. 30 VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN Fig. 9. — Varieties of Beets. Eclipse. Bastian's Early. Crosby's Egjrptian. Arlington Favorite. Blood Turnip. Dewing's Blood Turnip. CABBAGE Early Spring. — An, extremely early variety of the Early Summer type ; heads are deeper and not as large across. Outer leaves small and round ; stem short. Quality good ; a sure and hard header. Average weight 5 lbs. Matures with or just after the Jersey Wakefield. We consider this the leading variety for first early. Winning stadt. — Heads conical ; outer leaves large and spread- ing, therefore cannot be planted as closely as the Early Spring. VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN 31 Fig. 10.— Winningstadt Cabbage. Early Spring Cabbage. Early, hardy, and reliable ; one to two weeks later than Early Spring. Average weight about 4 lbs. Desirable for early or late planting. Early Summer. — Matures about one week later than the "Winningstadt. Heads large and flat, outer leaves large and spreading. A reliable header, average weight of marketable heads 6 to 7 lbs. ; quality good. An excellent variety for second early. Succession. — A large, flat, medium early, sure heading variety 32 VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN larger than Early Summer and about two weeks later. Very reliable for main crop for fall or winter use. Lnpton. — A medium late variety. Head thick and flat, large size, outer leaves dark green growing close over centre of head. A heavy and reliable header and a good winter keeper. CARROTS Danvers Half- Long. — A very popular half-long variety, yielding heavy crops of smooth uniform roots. Size medium to large, tapering uniformly to a point. Color deep orange. Quality good. The leading sort for general or market use. Chantenay . — Medium in size and earliness. Tip-shouldered with tap root. Very smooth ; bright yellow and fine grained. An excellent variety. CAULIFLOWER Snowball. — We believe this to be the most reliable variety for early or late planting. A sure header, being very early and dwarf. Heads large and snowy white if properly shaded when heading. Erfurt. — A very early dwarf variety, having small narrow leaves. A sure header, but not as large as the Snowball. CELERY Golden Self- Blanching — A strong, quick-growing variety for early market or home use. Not entirely self blanching, as its name indicates, requiring earth or board banking. Leaves yellowish green. Quality fair, inclined to be stringy uuless well blanched. Boston Market. — Valuable for fall and early winter use. Leaves green, stalks white, crisp and solid ; quality fine. Inclined to grow dwarf and bushy. The blanching process with this variety should begin early and the plants be kept well banked, if long straight stalks so desirable in the market are to be obtained. Pascal. — A late, tall-growing variety ; stalks few and large. Leaves dark green. Quality excellent when well blanched by earthing. Recommended for winter use, being a fine keeper VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN 33 SWEET CORN* Early Cory. — A well-known early variety. Stalks 4 to 5 ft. high. Ears 5 to 7 in. long, 8 rowed. Quality rather poor. Recommended for its extieme earliness only. Crosby's Early. — A valuable second early variety, following closely after the Cory. Stalks about 5 ft. high ; ears 6 to 8 in. long, kernels white, plump, juicy, and sweet. Potter'' s Excelsior or Squantum. — A splendid medium or late sort coming soon after the Crosby. Stalks 7 to 8 feet high, ears 7 to 8 in. long, white, well-filled and tender. Quality excellent. CUCUMBERS White Spine. — The most desirable variety for either home or market use, for slicing or pickling, whether grown in green- house, frame, or field. The plants are of strong growth and very productive. Fruit long, nearly round, slightly pointed at the ends, color dark green. Quality fine. EGG PLANT New York Improved Large Purple. — Plants large and spread- ing. Fruits large, purple and glossy. Quality fine. In order to succeed with this vegetable in our climate the plants should be started early, kept in a high temperature, and planted out in light, rich, warm soil, about June 1. LETTUCE Fig. 11.— Big Boston Lettuce. *For other varieties see N. H. Expt. Station Bulletin, No. 51. 34 VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN Big Boston. — Forms very compact heads of large size. Outer leaves quite thick and smooth; color light green. Inside of head well blanched and quite tender. Stem very short, there- fore lower leaves sometimes rot badly. A valuable variety for cold-frame or field growing, having a fine appearance on the market. New York or Wonderful. — A very large heading variety. Outer leaves large, spreading, dark green, slightly crumpled. Head large and solid; color light green; stands a long time be- fore running to seed. Quality fair. Being a strong spreading grower, it requires more room than most varieties. Rec- ommended only for field culture. Fig. 12.— New York or Wonderful Lettuce. Grand Rapids. — A curly or loose heading variety. One of the easiest to grow and quite profitable in sections where the loose lettuce is preferred. Suitable for greenhouse, cold frame, or field growing. Crumpled Leaf. — The best hard-heading variety for under glass culture. Worthless for outdoor growing, on account of its tendency to run to seed before heading. MUSKMELON * Emerald Gem. — This variety, all things considered, seems to be the general purpose melon for New England. We have had fair success Avith the Emerald Gem when other varieties largely failed. It belongs to the Jenny Lind type, is small to medium in size and globular in form, flattened at blossom and stem ends; skin smooth and slightly ribbed. It shows a rich emerald green color, with narrow stripes of light green in the ribs. Flesh is thick and of a, deep, rich salmon color, fine flavor, and of supe- * See Bulletins 52 and 70, also Technical Bulletin No. 2, for culture, classi- fication, varieties, etc., N. H. Expt. Station. VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN 35 rior quality. The fruit should be picked as soon as it will sepa- rate readily from the vine, as it loses its good qualities if left to remain until overly ripe. Rocky Ford or Netted Gem. — This popular melon, so com- monly found on our markets, is oval in shape, beiug longer than broad, slightly ribbed, and covered with a grayish coarse netting. The flesh is green in color, very sweet and juicy, and quite solid. The fruit is quite small and usually very produc- tive. This variety needs plenty of sunshine and a favorable season, and therefore cannot be so generally depended upon as the Emerald Gem. Montreal. — This melon is of medium to large size, oval in form, and when well grown, very highly flavored. It is ribbed, of light green color, netted, solid green flesh, and a good ship- per. Long Yellow. — This is a standard old-fashioned, long, yellow- fleshed variety of muskmelon. It reaches a large size, and is in good demand in some markets. Flavor only fair, not as good as those already named. It should be picked as soon as any signs of ripening appear, as it loses much of its flavor if allowed to remain on the vines long. WATEEMELON * Cole's Early. — Fruit medium sized, round or slightly oval, marked with irregular stripes of dark and light green. Flesh red, solid, and very sweet. Early and reliable. Eind brittle; seeds dark brown. One of the best varieties for New England culture. Boss. — A long, dark melon, very heavy for its size. Flesh solid, red, and of the best quality. Seeds black. A good all- round melon for the North. Black-Eyed Susan. — A new Southern melon that promises well for Northern culture. Shape oblong to long, light strip- ings, thin, tough rind, quite early, solid scarlet flesh of extra quality. Seeds white, with two dark spots at the sprout end. * See Bulletin 86, N. H. Expt. Station, for culture and classification of the watermelon. 'M TEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN ONION Yellow Danvers. — An old, reliable variety; early and produc- tive. Medium size, round, firm, fine grained. Quality excel- lent. Skin straw color; flesh white. A good keeper. Highly recommended. PARSNIP Hollow Crown. — The standard variety. Long, white, smooth, and excellent quality. PEAS (EAKLY) Gradus or Prosperity . — An early wrinkled, large-podded pea of excellent quality, ma- turing from 4 to 8 days later than the Alaska. Vines 2 to 3 feet high, pods dark green, large, long, and flat, containing 5 to 7 large peas. It has not been extremely pro- lific with us, but owing to the large size of the pods can be picked more rap- idly and yields about the same by measure as the early round or flint varie- ties. Recommended for its size and quality, also fine appearance in the market as com- pared with other early varieties ripening with or a few days ahead of it. Fig. 13.— The Gradus Pea. Claudlt. — A new ear- ly, wrinkled pea, ripen- ing with the early flint varieties. Vines 2j ft.; pods 3 to 3| in. long, containing 6 to 8 peas. Very prolific; quality good. Highly recom- mended for home or market use. Fig. 14.— The Claudit Pea. VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN 37 Notfs Excelsior. — A dwarf early wrinkled variety; maturing between Alaska and Gradus. Vines 12 to 15 in. high; pods 2 to 3 in. long; 4 to 7 peas to the pod; prolific; quality good. Should be sown quite thickly in the row for best results. Can be planted in narrow rows and are easily plowed under. PEAS (LATE) Telephone (dwarf and tall; season medium). — As their names- indicate, the Telephones differ mostly in their manner of growth. •N i fa 1 1(4/6 Hi ///rtlu'iu lil P, . ... ,S 1— — ^^^^I^W^^W Fig. 15.— Varieties of Main Crop Peas. The tall Telephone grows to a height of from 3 to 4 ft., and therefore cannot be planted as closely as the dwarf, which grows about 15 in. tall. The dwarf is also easier to pick and more 38 VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN convenient to plow under. Pods very large and dark green in color; peas large,, wrinkled, tender, and very sweet. Stratagem (season medium late). — Vines semi-dwarf (18 to 24 in. high); pods very large and generally well filled with large wrinkled dark green peas of excellent quality. Prolific; a first-class seller in the market. PEPPEBS Sweet Mountain. — An early and productive sort. Plants grow about 15 inches high. Fruit 3 to 4 in. long, thick, square ended, dark green and mild, thus making it a very profitable variety for market. Fig. 16.— Sweet Mountain Peppers. N Large Bell, or Bull Nose. — An early, dwarf, prolific variety. Height of plant 12 in. Fruit dark green, changing when ripe to bright scarlet. Shape similar to that of the Sweet Mountain. Size a trifle smaller. Highly recommended. VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN 39 Fig. 17. — Large Bell Pepper. Fig. 18.— Improved Thick Long Red Pepper. 40 VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN Improved Thick Long Red. — Height of plant 12 to 15 in. Fruit 3 to 4 in. long, tapering uniformly from shoulder to point. Diameter at shoulder 1\ in. Very early and productive. Color when ripe very deep scarlet. Colors quickly after reach- ing maturity. We recommend it for home or market use where ripe peppers are wanted. POTATOES Early Rose. — This potato needs no introduction to our New England growers, having long been the standby for early plant- ing. While new varieties are annually introduced with a big flourish, claiming to excel this variety in yield as well as earli- ness, yet we are unable after testing them all to point out one that has given as good average results in the two above men- tioned respects, provided a good selected strain of seed was used. In our variety test the past season the following early vari- eties made a very good showing and are worthy of further trial : Junior Pride, Early Norwood, Eureka. Delaware. — Season medium early to late Tubers have a roundish flattened form, size medium to large, skin white, finely netted, quality excellent. A very strong growing and heavy yielding variety. Highly recommended as a reliable main crop variety for home use or market. Green Mountain. — Season medium to late. Tubers similar to the Delaware excepting size and shape, averaging longer and larger than that variety. Very vigorous and productive, quality fine. This potato brings the top price in nearly all New Eng- land markets, therefore one of the most profitable for main crop. Washington. — Season medium to late. Tubers large to very large, shape regular, oblong, somewhat flattened, skin very smooth and white. Quality fair (not equal in this respect to the Delaware and Green Mountain). A very, productive and vigorous sort. In our test of potatoes the past season, includ- ing fifty leading old and new varieties, the Washington stood first in point of yield, the Delaware second, and the Green Mountain third. VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN 41 PUMPKIN Small Sugar. — The best variety for market or home use, being small, fine-grained, yellow, prolific, and a good keeper. We tested 30 varieties the past season, but found none equal to this one for commercial use. Golden Oblong. — Largely used for culinary purposes. Fruit small, long, yellow and uniform. KADISH Early Scarlet Globe. — Nearly round, deep scarlet. Early and reliable. Quality good, if used before reaching full matur- ity, after which they became spongy and worthless for market. French Breakfast. — A quick maturing variety. Producing roots obovate in form 2 to 3 inches long. Color bright red with white tip. Quality good. Wood's Early Iraine. — A long scarlet variety. Well adapted for frame or out-door growing. Quality fine. A good seller in markets that prefer a long radish. SQUASH Early Prolific Marrow. — The earliest variety of any market value. Vines strong and productive. Fruit medium in size ; color orange red ; quality fair. A good fall variety, selling well in the markets until the later and better varieties appear. Essex Hybrid. — Shape similar to the Turban. Shell hard ; color light yellow. Flesh thick, dry, and excellent quality. Quite productive. A desirable fall and early winter variety. Warren. — Very similar to the Essex Hybrid except in outer appearance ; the shell being warty and deep orange in color. Hubbard. — The leading sort for winter use. Shell hard, making it a fine keeper and shipper. Flesh dry and fine in quality. 42 VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN Fig. 19.— "Warted Hubbard Squash. TOMATOES * Earliana. — The earliest large, smooth variety. The vines being small, permits close plantiDg (3 to 3| ft). Fruit bright red, nearly round, some specimens growing heart shaped. Quality poor, being too soft for sloping, except in small pack- ages. Cracks badly after a long rain. Recommended for early use only. Profitable lintil other better varieties begin to ripen. Dwarf Champion. — Sometimes called the tree tomato. Plants grow very dwarf and bushy ; leaves dark green, thick and robust. Season early to medium. Fruit small to medium, smooth, color crimson tinged with purple. Quality excellent. Plants should be set 3 to 3| ft. apart, thus requiring more plants per acre than of the larger growing varieties, therefore increasing the tfost of plants as well as setting, while the yield is no greater. Stone. — A strong-growing mid-season variety. Fruits large, smooth, deep, nearly round. Color bright scarlet ; very solid and firm, thus making it a splendid shipper and a fine all round market sort. Highly recommended. * Other varieties, etc., see N. H. Exp. Station Bulletins, Nos. 42 and 73. VEGETABLES FOK THE GARDEN 43 Beauty. — A productive variety for main crop. Fruits large, smooth, nearly round, slightly flattened. Flesh thick, quality good. Color crimson tinged with purple. Recommended for growers whose market prefers a dark or crimson variety. . TURNIP Early Milan (Purple Top and White). — Earliest of all. Size small ; shape flat. Sweet and tender when small. Recom- mended only as a first early. Early Snowball. — Medium in size, round, smooth, and white. A good market sort for bunching, at which stage the quality is fine. White Egg. — Shape oval ; color white. Roots firm, smooth, tender, and sweet, wThen nearly matured. If planted early and allowed to stand after maturing, it becomes large and spongy like other early varieties. Bed To}i Globe. — When well grown this is a very attractive market sort. Size medium to large. Shape nearly round. Quality good. SWEDES OR RUTABAGA American Purple Top Butabaga. — We recommend this variety of turnip for late fall and winter use for the following reasons. It is a fine market sort, often selling in the markets for double the price of the early white turnip ; it is also a splendid keeper, and is usually free from all sponginess. While it cannot be planted as late as the early turnips, it can be used as a follow crop after early peas, provided the seed is sown not later than July 10. cstrjJfcfs sc*4.z /1o.1- /9of: i r c rr i II 1 ' I ' '