^»B«E 



130 East Wisconsin Avenue ^^^ Milwaukee, Wisconsin 



47 



ag/^ 



GENERAL LIST OF 



Vegetable Seeds for 1928 



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 ROOTS 



Barr's Mammoth — Giant Argenteuil — Palmetto. Strong twc 

 year-old roots of any of the above Asparagus. Per doz., 

 30c; per 100, ^2.00; per 1000, ^12.50. 



Washington Rust Proof — Strong tvvo-year-old roots. Per doz. 

 50c; per 100, ^3.50. 

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



ASPARAGUS 



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 trees 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 commercal 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. 1 he 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 provide 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 vigorous, 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 w-eakening 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 fertiliryng, and an application of commerfeial 

 fertilizer early in spring will be beneficial. •■' .; 



Asparagus may be found suffering from blight, a condition frequently 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 ^/t-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 



Washington Rust Proof — A new variety, the result of breeding by the U. S. Dept. 



of Agriculture to obtain a rust-resistant Asparagus. Is nearer to being rust- 



proof than any other variety. The shoots are 

 Pkt., 10c; oz., 25c; V4 lb., 75c; 1 lb., ^2.50. 



irge and deep green in color. 



Barr's Mammoth — A large green sort. Pkt., 10c; oz., 15c; V4 'b., 35c; 



^1.00. 

 Columbian 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; 1/4 lb., 35c; 1 lb., ^1.00. 



Asparagus Knife, 50c Each 



