---------------------+---------+---------------+--------+----------+-------- | |Appearance of | | |Per cent | |young plants, |Edible |Mark't'ble|forming Varieties. | Source. |March 29. |Maturity|Maturity. |heads. ---------------------+---------+---------------+--------+----------+-------- Burpee's Best Early |Burpee. |Small; even. | Aug. 5| Aug. 10 | 100 Denmark |Vaughn. |Good; even. | July 26| Aug. 10 | 83 Earliest Dwarf Erfurt|Maule. |Good; even. | Aug. 27| Sept. 14 | 67 Erfurt Earliest Dwarf|March. |Small; even. | Aug. 10| Aug. 27 | 92 Early Snowball |Henderson|Very weak; | Aug. 5| Aug. 10 | 100 | | uneven. | | | Early Puritan |Ferry. |Small; even. | Aug. 7| Aug. 13 | 92 Gilt Edge |Thorburn.|Weak; uneven. | July 26| Aug. 8 | 93 Maule's Prize |Maule. |Small; somewhat| July 24| Aug. 8 | 83 Earliest | | uneven. | | | Snowball |March. |Good; even. | July 24| Aug. 8 | 100 ---------------------+---------+---------------+--------+----------+-------- THE BEST VARIETIES. The points to consider in selecting varieties are first, earliness or time of maturity; second, the certainty of their forming good heads. The importance of having well grown seed has already been mentioned. This being secured, the choice of varieties is largely a matter of circumstances. A variety which is good for one climate, or for one purpose, may not be good for another. For the early crop, an account of which has already been given, the earliest variety obtainable should be used, as our springs at the North are short enough at best. The Earliest Dwarf Erfurt strains include nearly all the earliest varieties now grown, and, for this country, at least, are the best. The typical variety is usually sold under the name Extra Early Dwarf Erfurt, and if properly selected seed is secured, this is nearly or quite as early as any of the strains which have received special names. Among the best of these latter are Henderson's Snowball, Thorburn's Gilt Edge, and Vick's Ideal, the latter a little the largest and latest. For growing under glass the first two of these varieties are as good as any. The earliest varieties are now often grown also for the fall crop, particularly at the North, by being sown late. Their greater certainty to head on time, and the increased number that can be grown on an acre, renders them especially valuable.