STOKES 



CROMTNC SINCE 157S 



SEEDS 



Mary Washington Asparagus 



SUPER-STANDARD 



The Largest and Most Profitable Rust-Resistant Strain 



Asparagus Rust took a heavy toll this past season. Insure against 

 this loss by planting Mary Washington 



Mary Washington, the best of the Washinj^ 

 which were all developed by Dr. J. B. Norton, for 

 on the Government staff of plant-breeders, 

 offered to our trade as by all means the most 

 strain of Asparagus in existence. This is the ; 

 that we have offered Washington Asparagus, 

 and we now do not hesitate to place the 

 Mary Washington strain ahead of all others. 

 This decision has been reached as a result 

 of large commercial tests in various parts ot 

 the country, showing this strain to be more 

 profitable because of its larger size and 

 greater productiveness. 



The demand for Asparagus during the 

 past decade has greatly increased the 

 acreage. Although there has been some 

 complaint of over-production, we have not 

 heard a single instance in which Mary 

 Washington was not showing a strong profit. 



Mary Washington will produce the very 

 highest type of green Asparagus it is possible 

 to grow. It is earlier. larger, and longer than 

 the Pedigree Washington and Martha 

 Washington, and, for all commercial pur- 

 poses, is equally rust-resistant. The tips are 

 very tight and do not prematurely "sprangle 

 out" or "blow," a feature which greatly 

 increases its sales value. Asparagus with 

 premature!}^ loose buds does not keep well 

 on the market, and also loses its good flavor. 

 This feature is later recognized by the high 

 branching habit of the plant after the 

 cutting season. In view of the prevalence ot 

 rust, it seems to us to be the greatest folly 

 for any Asparagus grower to plant additional 

 acreage with the old varieties such as 

 Palmetto, Giant Argenteuil, etc., which are 

 susceptible to rust. 



Price of large, selected MARY WASHING- 

 TON ROOTS, delivered: $2.50 per 100; $7.50 

 for 500; $12 per 1,000; 5,000 roots or over, $10 

 per 1,000. 



Price of PEDIGREED MARY WASHING- 

 TON SEED, delivered : Pkt. 10c. ; oz. 30c. ; V^lb. 

 $1 ; lb. $3.75 ; 5 lbs. or over at $3.50 per lb. 



What is Asparagus Rust ? 



The fact that Asparagus rust {Puccinia 

 Asparagi) does not appear on the newly 

 grown shoots has caused many growers to 

 claim that they are immtune to rust dif- 

 ficuhies. Asparagus rust is a fungous 

 parasite introduced into this country about 

 1900. Within eight years it had spread 

 from coast to coast. It develops on the 

 Asparagus fern during July and August, 

 at first showing rectangular red-brown 

 spots along the lower stem. These gradually 

 spread into the upper parts of the fern and 

 cause the premature browning of the tops 

 during the period when the plant stores up 

 its food-supply for the new spring shoots. 

 The Mary Washington strain is almost 

 totally immune to this rust and will form a 

 strong, heahhy top growth which insures 

 a productive crop. All of our roots are 

 grown directly from seed produced under 

 Dr. Norton's supervision. 



