General List of 



Vegetable Seeds for 1927 



For Market Gardeners^ Truckers and Amateurs 



The Best That Scientific Methods Can Produce 



Seeds[Postpaid to Any Postoffice in the United States, Except Where Otherwise Noted. 



ASPARAGUS 



ASPARAGUS ROOTS 



Barr's Mammoth — Giant Argenteuil — Palmetto. Strong 

 two-j^ear-old roots of any of the above Asparagus. Per 

 doz., 30c; per 100, $2.00; per 1,000, $12.50. 



Washingrton Rust Proof — Strong two-year-old roots. Per 

 doz. 50c; per 100, $3.50. 



If wanted by mail, add 10c per dozen roots, 25c per 100. 



11 



Asparagus may be grown in almost any soil, and under nearly all 

 conditions, but succeeds best in a rich, sandy, friable loam with 

 good under drainage, and yet not too dry. Avoid planting near treea 

 or tall shrubs, because of the shade and heavy draft on the fertility 

 of the ground. Choose an open space with a southern exposure. 



Put the soil into the best possible condition before planting by 

 working in a liberal quantity of well rotted manure, or commercial 

 fertilizer will do where barn-yard manure is not available. For 

 family gardens dig a trench 18 inches wide for each row, placing a 

 few inches of manure in the bottom, covering it with two or three 

 inches of soil to prevent the roots coming in contact with the manure 

 before active growth has begun. Set the plants from 15 to 18 inches 

 apart in the rows, and 36 inches between the rows. In field culture 

 it Is best to set the plants three to four feet apart. In planting, the 

 roots should be spread by dividing them in the middle, setting them 

 over little hills of soil placed in the bottom of the trench, thus 

 raising the crown a few inches above the extremities of the roots, 

 and at once cover with three or four inches of soil for green, and 

 eight to ten Inches for white Asparagus, taking care to press the 

 soil firmly about the roots. The plants may be set either In spring 

 or late in fall. "We advise planting in this latitude as early in the 

 spring as the ground can be worked. The Asparagus plant Is slow 

 to die down in the fall, so the roots cannot safely be dug until about 

 November 1st. By this time the soil Is so cool that the plants do not 

 root readily, consequently many are winter killed. 



Frequent cultivation is required to keep down weeds and to pro- 

 vide a mulch of loose earth for the retention of moisture, care being 

 taken not to injure the young sprouts in the operation. 



Cutting should not begin until the plants are strong and vigor- 

 ous, which is generally two or three years after planting, and should 

 be discontinued after the first of July. Later cropping is done at 

 the expense of weakening the roots. The plants should be allowed 

 to fully mature before cutting off early in winter, and a top dressing 

 of three or four inches of barn-yard manure applied. Asparagus 

 being a gross feeder, naturally requires heavy fertilizing, and an 

 application of commercial fertilizer early in spring will be beneficial. 

 Asparagus may be found suffering from blight, a condition fre- 

 quently brought on by prolonging the cropping season, thereby 

 weakening the roots, or it may be due to a want of fertility. So as 

 to prevent it, apply a liberal quantity of manure every year, and 

 above all avoid extending the cutting period too long. Should blight 

 appear, however, spray the plants freely with Bordeaux Mixture, 

 and destroy the affected parts. 



Asparagus seed should be sown as early as possible in spring, 

 scattering the seed an inch apart in drills, covering with %-inch of 

 soil. After the plants are well up, thin to stand 2 inches apart. 

 Keep the ground well cultivated and the plants will be ready to set 

 out in permanent beds the following spring. One ounce of seed for 

 300 plants. 



ASPARAGUS. 

 Washinsrton Rust Proof — A new variety, the result of breeding by 

 the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture to obtain a rust-resistant Aspara- 

 gus. Is nearer to being rustproof than any other variety. The 

 shoots are large and deep green In color. Pkt., lOci on., aPci % 

 lb., 75c) 1 lb.. $3.60. 

 Harris Mammoth — A large green sort, Pkt., lOcj o«., IScj % lb., 35cj 

 1 lb., fl^OO. 



Colnmblan Mammoth White — A large white variety. 

 Giant Argenteuil — A popular main crop sort, grows to a 



large size. 

 Palmetto — An early green sort. 



Pkt., 10c; oz., 15c; ^4 lb., 35c; 1 lb., $1.00. 



Aaparasma Knife, 60c Bach. 



