"Mary Washington — the most profitable Asparagus ever grown' 



MARY WASHINGTON ASPARAGUS 



THE MOST VALUABLE ASPARAGUS EVER INTRODUCED 

 We offer only the pure strain developed under personal and direct supervision of Prof. J. B. Norton, 

 the originator. See photograph in natural colors on back cover 



FOR three years we have offered Washington Asparagus, and now, after very thorough investigation, 

 we replace this by Mary Washington, a strain developed under parallel conditions with Washington, 

 and under the direction of the same scientist. It has shown itself to have very superior quahties. 

 To quote Prof. Norton, "Mary Washington is so much better than Washington that you can see the dif- 

 ference." After sixteen years of devoted scientific effort, he now considers that Mary Washington cul- 

 minates his Asparagus breeding work, at least for the present. Prof. Norton's long career as a botanist, 

 physiologist, and agricultural explorer with the U. S. Department of Agriculture has been productive of 

 very remarkable advances along practical lines. His work on Asparagus has been truly remarkable, and 

 worthy of the highest traditions of American horticulture. 



Through a working agreement with the Pedigreed Seed Company, who took over the control of the 

 breeding stocks from the U. S. Bureau of Plant Industry in 1920, we are able to offer to our trade roots 

 grown from Prof. Norton's second-generation stock seed, as well as seed from the original breeding-fields 

 over which he has had entire supervision. Prof. Norton, on personally examining our plantation of Mary 

 Washington seedlings here in New Jersej^, on October 15, declared them to be as fine as any he had ever seen. 

 He was deeply impressed with the care and methods of cultivation they had received. 



Mary Washington will produce the very highest type green Asparagus it is possible to grow. It is earlier, 

 larger, and longer than the Washington, and for all commercial purposes it 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 prematurely 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. 

 The natural color of Mary Washington is rich purple-green. Its length will average from 10 to 20 inches — 

 the entire length of the stock being tender and brittle. The green shoots are very large, with a tendency to be 

 slightly oval in the cross-section. Even when planted alongside of other strains of Washington, it is very 

 easy to identify the Mary Washington by its taller and larger shoots. Large shoots will bring double the 

 price of the small ones. Mary Washington has the largest seed and the largest seedlings of any Asparagus 

 known. Do not confuse this with the Martha Washington Asparagus strain which was one of the parents 

 of Washington. 



Asparagus is one of the oldest vegetables under cultivation. 

 It is native of Mesopotamia. Although it was introduced into 

 this country at an early date. Asparagus rust was not found 

 here until 1896, when it was accidentally introduced into the 

 vicinity of New York City. Within ten years it had spread to 

 all of the Asparagus regions of the United States, causing serious 

 losses everywhere. In some districts the industry was completely 

 abandoned. The Massachusetts Asparagus Growers Association, 

 in 1906, secured the cooperation of the U. S. Bureau of Plant 

 Industry and the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, and a breeding project was started for the purpose of 

 developing a rust-resistant strain. This work was carried on 

 unremittingly under the leadership of Prof. Norton, and these 

 Washington strains were the result. In this connection it is not 

 too much to say that this work has definitely saved the Aspara- 

 gus industry in the United States. By reason of the greatly 

 improved edible qualities, it has raised the whole standard of the 

 industry. Because Asparagus is dioecious, requiring two parents 

 for seed-production, httle advance had been made in producing 

 improved strains until this systematic breeding work at Concord 

 was inaugurated. The ideal which these men set out for and 

 achieved was for net profit under rust epidemic conditions. 

 This has now been developed to the point where the Asparagus 

 rust is completely under control, although it is a lamentable fact 

 that many diseased fields still exist which are annually cutting 

 down the profits of adjacent resistant types. 



An Asparagus field under proper care should be productive 

 and profitable for from fifteen to twenty years. One's original 

 investment is of small consequence compared to the annual 

 return. The domestic consumption of Asparagus is increasing, 

 but we_ question whether it is keeping pace with the rapidly 

 increasing acreage. It is our guess that competition in the 

 irnmediate future will be keen. In this competition, the man 

 with the quality product is the only one who is sure of his 

 market. The race is only for the strong. We see little hope for 

 the careless, rust-ridden grower to survive. 



Heavy Mary Washington Seedling dug 

 from our plantation on Oct. 23, 1923. 

 Our roots average over 12 inches. 



PRICE OF LARGE SELECTED ROOTS: $3.00 per 100, $10.00 for 500, $17.50 per 1,000, 5,000 or 

 over at $15.00 per 1,000. These prices are f.o.b. Philadelphia or our New Jersey growing station — our option. 

 PRICE OF SEED: Pkt. 15 cts., oz. 50 cts., y4lb. $1.75, lb. $6.00, 5 lbs. $25.00, delivered. 



