Nelson Family Juvenilia
Box 1 Folder 34
Nelson Bros Seedsmen – n.d.

[First packet of pages]
[Cover page (37)]

Header: GOSHEN. SUL. CO. N.H

[First column] -lected. Any fair average specimen will take the prize at an exhibition against the finest specimens of other sorts. It is seldom, very seldom that we come across a novelty that marks such a long step in advance in the culture of vegetables. Besides being a “Prizetaker,” it will also prove to be a Pricetaker. A word to to wise is sufficient. 10

PARSNIP
CULTURE. They do best on a deep, rich, sandy soil, but will make good roots on any soil which is deep, mellow and moderately rich, but fresh manure is apt to make the roots coarse and ill shaped. As the seed is some-

[Second column] -times slow to germinate, if should be sown as early as possible, in drills two feet or two and one-half feet apart; cover one-half inch deep, and press the soil firmly over the seed; give frequent cultivation, and thin the plants to pour[?] to the foot.

HOLLOW CROWN.
Roots comparatively short, ending some-

[Second page (38)]

Header: NELSON BRO’S SEEDSMEN

[First column] –what abruptly with a small tape root; grows mostly below the surface; has a very smooth clean skin, and is easily distinguished by its leaves arising from a depression on the top or crown of the root 5

PEAS
CULTURE.- For early peas the soil should be light, warm and sheltered, but for general crop a moderately heavy soil is better. Fresh manure, or [really?] rich or mucky solid should be avoided, as they cause a rank growth of vine at the expense of the quality of the peas: such soil is often the cause of early peas maturing unevenly. Sow as early as possible a few

[Second column] of the earliest varieties on warm, quick soil, prepaired the fall before. The general crop can be delayed until later. The peas will mature earlier if covered only an inch deep, and where earliness is the most importance they may be treated that way, but larger plants and more of them will be produced, if the seed is planted in trenches three to six inches deep, covered with one or two inches of soil until the plants are

[Image caption] GUNNISON

[Third page (39)]

Header: GOSHEN. SUL. CO. N.H

[First column] above the surface, then filling the trenches; this will secure deep rooting, prevent mildew and prolong the bearing season.

GUNNISON. A very large, wrinkled variety of good quality and productive. Quite early. Pods good size and plump. Fine to sow broadcast. Vines stout and thrifty, hardy. 5

[Image caption] Eugenia

EUGENIA. A new late variety. This grand pea has been greatly admired, the peas are rather small but very sweet, the vines are

[Second column] sturdy and strong in growth. They grow from 3 to 3 ½ feet high and are loaded with pods small and great. It is a fine pea for the garden or as a market pea as it is very productive. For a small family this is just the pea and no on should be with out il [it?]. 5

BLACK EYED. This is hardy and productive and is used mostly for field culture. It is a very thrify grower though a littler latter than sum. Pods large and pease smooth and yellow all but a small black eye from which it derives its name. A fine flavored pea and good baked

[Fourth page (40)]

Header: NELSON BRO’S SEEDSMEN

[First column] in the winter. Peas are often time ground

[Image caption] BLACK EYED PEA

and fed to hogs to fatten them but is better if ground with barley. Peas are also often roasted and used for coffee and with a little roasted barley added is not bad. 5.

PEPPER
CULTURE.- The seed should be planted early and kept in strong heat, as a continuous growth is what is wanted and any check given it when you will always retard it, in some lat-

[Second column] itudes farther south is can be sown out doors early in the spring and do well, Guano, hen dung, or any other bird manure, hoed into the surface when the plants are about six inches high, will wonderfully increase the product and also improve the quality of the fruit.

RED CLUSTER. A single plant will bear hundreds of coral red colored, handsome little

[Image caption] RED CLUSTER

peppers which are very hot and pungent in flavor 10

[Second packet of pages]
[First page (41)]

Header: GOSHEN. SUL. CO. N.H

[First column]
PUMPKINS
CULTURE.- Pumpkins are not so particular in regard to soil as melons and cucumbers. but in other respects are cultivated the same, though on a larger scale. They are generaly raised between or in hills of corn, but may be planted with success in fields by themselves.

HELSONS IMPROVED FIELD.- A medium sized nearly round yellow pumpkin, It is prolific bearing two or three good pumpkins on vine, under good conditions. Meat thick, fine

[Second column] grained and of excellent flavor. One of the best for feeding purposes and excellent for pies every one should try it. 5

[Text in image] RADISH CULTURE
For the home garden sow on rich sandy soil as early in the spring as possible after fit to work. For forcing sow in hot bed, having very rich, sandy soil, made perfectly level, scattered evenly over the whole surface from sixty to one hundred an fifty seeds to the square foot, cover with one-half inch of soil sifted on and attend carefully to the watering and airing. If the bed is a good one the whole crop can be marketed in

[Second page (42)]

Header: NELSON BRO’S SEEDSMEN
[First column] twenty-one to thirty days after planting. In open ground culture sow in drills twelve inches apart and thin to such a distance in the rows as to prevent crowding. A good dressing of nitrate of soda will greatly stimulate growth and insure tende[r] brittle roots. Successful sowings from one week to ten days apart will keep up a sucession. After the hot weather of summer begins it is better to sow the summer and winter varieties as they do not become though or stringy like the earlier sorts. Radishes as subject to the root maggets, which make they useless for culinary purposes. We know of no certain remedy

[Second column] for this pest. The best preventative measures will be to avoid strong maure and sowing on ground where radishes, turnips or cabbages were grown the year previous.

CHINA ROSE WINTER.
A bright, rose colored, winter variety. Sow in summer the same as turnips. His is of excellent quality, and is certainly on of the best varieties for winter use 10

QUEEN OF THE MARKET
A very early radish, a globe in shape and of a pinkish color, flesh crisp and tender, splendid as a market

[Third page (43)]

Header: GOSHEN. SUL. CO. N.H

[First column] radish, by sowing every ten days, or two weeks a continous crop can be kept up, we advise all to plant it 5

SUMMER VARIETIES MIXED.- Some of the best summer varieties mixed, for the use of families who have small gardens, as you have a great variety in spall space 10

[Text in image] SQUASH
CULTURE.- The plants are very tender and sensitive to the cold, and planting must be delayed till settled weather. The general principles of culture are the same as given for cucumbers and melons,

[Second column] but the plants are less particular as to soil. The summer varieties should be planted four to six feet apart each way, and the winter sorts eight to ten. Three plants are sufficient for our[?] hill, care should be taken not to break the stems from squashes intended for winter use, as the slightest injury will increase the liability to decay.

FODHOOK. The size will be found most convenient for family use, and the appearance is most handsome, of a bright yellow outside and straw-yellow within. The flesh is as “dry as Pine’s Peak and much

[Fourth page (44)]

Header: NELSON BRO’S SEEDSMEN

[First column] sweeter” – making it the best in quality of all winter squashes. It seems incapable of rotting, and place in a cool dry room, keeps in perfect condition throughout the winter and spring, until late in June, when summer squashes are ready. From the photograph will be noticed the thin, hard stem, in striking contrast to the thick, fleshy stems of other varieties of winter squashes. This characteristic also applies to the roots, which

[Second column] are likewise slim and hard, furnishing absolutely no food for the squash bored[?].
It is also a strong and rapid grower, so that the striped bug has never injured it, as it “grows away from them” – being earlier in ripening than any other Winter Squash. It matures far North where scarcely any other variety ever ripens. It is immensely productive, far out yielding and other variety of Winter Squash
A most valuable characteristic is the fact that while such a remarkable keeper, the skin is so very thin and delicate that the squashes are prepaired for cooking by cutting them in to length-wise, then cook-

[Third packet of pages]
[First page (45)]

Header: GOSHEN. SUL. CO. N.H

[First column] ing, skin and all, at any time through-out the winter. The meat is very thick and seed cavity small. Another feature is that the green squashes can be used at any time during their growth; when sliced and fried they are of such consistency that they never fall to pieces. Served in this manner they are most delicious; “Fried Fordhook” is a dish esteemed my every who has tasted it, and would never be recognized as a squash, so rich and distinct is the flavor 10

HUBBARD.- This is a superior variety; and one of the best winter squashes known; flesh bright orange-yellow, fine grained, very dry, sweet and rich flavor-

[Second column] ed; keeps perfectly throughout the winter; boils or bakes exceedingly dry and is esteemed by to be as good baked as sweet potato 5

BOSTON MARROW.- A fall and winter variety, very popular in the Boston market. Of oval form; skin thin, when ripe, bright orange mottled with

[Second page (46)]

Header: NELSON BRO’S SEEDSMEN
[First column] light cream color; flesh rich salmon yellow, fine grained, and for sweetness and excellence, unsurpassed, but not as dry as the Hubbard. Our stock is true. 5

SUMMER CROOKNECK
The old standard sort; very early and productive. It is small with crooked neck, covered with warty excrescences; color bright yellow, shell very hard when ripe. 5

BUY NELSONS
squash seeds they
are true to
name, try them

[Second column]
SUNFLOWER
CULTURE.- Sow the seed as soon as the ground is fit for corn in the North, later will do just as well in the South, in rows three and one-half feet apart and ten inches in the row. Cultivate the same as for corn. In the autumn after the first hard frosts, cut the heads off the stems with a corn knife, and pile loosely in a rail pen with a solid floor, or in a corn crib. After curing sufficiently so that they will thresh easily flail out and run through a threshing machine, let the seed remain in the chaff until danger of heating is over, then clean with an ordinary fannsilg [?] mill.

JUMBO. A very large and productive sort. See novelties on page 5 10

[Third page (47)]

Header: GOSHEN. SUL. CO. N.H

[Text in image] TOMATO AND ITS CULTURE

[First column] Tomatoes do best on light, warm soil, not over rich, and success depends upon securing a rapid, vigorous, unchecked growth during the early part of the season. Sow in hot beds from six to eight weeks before they can be set out doors, or if a smaller quanity is wanted the seed may be sown in boxes and set in the window and then transplanted out doors when danger from frost is over; when the plants have four leaves transplant into shallow boxes or cold frames setting them four or five inches apart; give pleny of air and

[Second column] endevor to secure a vigorous, but steady and healthy growth, so that at the time of setting in the open ground they will be strong and stocky. A sligh check while the plants are small will materialy diminish their productiveness. Set out of doors as soon as dancer from frost is over, but before doing so harden off the plants by gradually exposing them to night air and by the withdrawal of water until the wood becomes hard and the leave thick and of a dark green color. Transplant carefully and cultivate well as long as the vines will permit. The fruit is improved in quality if the

[Fourth page (48)]

Header: NELSON BRO’S SEEDSMEN

[First column] vines are tied to a trellis or to stakes.

LIVINGSTONS PERFECTION.- A good productive and solid tomato, originate by Mr. Living ston, who produced the Paragon and Acme 10

ALTHINE.- This is a fair sized tomato of very good flavor and thrifty. Tomatoes smooth and fair and of a lighter color than some but of a good rich color. Productive and thrifty, excellent for sauces, vines of good height 10

[Second column] J.J. BELL.- One of the earliest in cultivation. Stock limited. 10

BROOM CORN
Should be planted the same a field corn, so that it may be cultivated easily.

NELSONS EARLY.- A very early variety, recomended for all northern growers, brooms made from it are of the best. All the farmers should plant it as it often comes handy.