W. BUCJV-^ffe, ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS. 



German Spargel 



French Aaperge 



Spanish Esptrragoa 



Swedish S$*rri» 



A GREAT 



Money-Making 



CROP. 



ASPARAGUS is the most delicious 

 and desirable of the earliest 

 spring vegetables, and would be in 

 universal use were It not for the 

 mistaken Idea that It is dltncult to 

 grow. In reality, it can be produced 

 very easily and cheaply. It does best 

 iu a moist, sandy soil, but can be 

 grown in any garden by following the 

 directions given here. A bed 15x50 

 feet, requiring about 100 plants, 

 should give an abundant supply for 

 an ordinary family. 



CULTURE. 



Beds are usually formed by setting 

 plants two years old. If you wish to 

 grow plants yourself, pour hot, but 

 not boiling water on the seed and let 

 stand until cool; pour it off and re- 

 peat two or three times with fresh 

 hot water. Then sow iu drills one 

 foot apart and two inches deep in 

 light, rich soil. When the plants are 

 well up, thin to about one Inch apart, 

 and give frequent and thorough cul- 

 tivation during the summer. If this 

 has been well done, the plants will 

 be fit to set the next spring. The 

 permanent beds should be prepared by deep plowing or spading, and thoroughly enriching the ground with stable manure or other fertilizer. 

 If the subsoil is not naturally loose and friable, it should be made so by thoroughly stirring with a subsoil plow or the spade. Set the 

 plants about four inches deep and one to two feet apart in rows four to six feet apart. After the plants are well started, give frequent and 

 thorough cultivation. Early the next spring, spade in a heavy dressing of manure, and one quart of salt to each square rod, and cultivate well, 

 as long as the size of the plants will permit, or until thev begin to die down. The next season the beds may Be cut over two or three times, 

 bat if this Is done, all the shoots, no matter how small, should be cut. After the final cuting, give a good dressing of manure, ashes and 

 salt. Cultivate frequently until the plants meet in the rows. In autumn, after the tops are fully ripe and yellow, they should be cut and 

 burned. If well cultivated and manured, the bed should give a full crop the following season, and continue productive for 8 or 10 years. 



NOTICE— A pkt. of Asparagus Seed contains from 200 to 250 seeds. One oz. of seed will produce about 600 plants. Fifteen pounds of 

 ■seed is required to plant an acre. 



Columbian Mammoth White — The most distinct and valuable Asparagus. The immense shoots are clear white, and in favorable weather 

 remain so until three or four inches above the surface. The crown or hud of the young stalk is considerably smaller than the part just 

 below it, thus further distinguishing the variety. All but a very few of the seedlings will produce clear, white shoots and the green ones 

 can readily be distinguished and rejected when setting the permanent bed. Pkt. 4c. ; oz. 7c; 2 oz. 12c. j V4 lb. 18c.; V4 lo. «c.; id w»c. 



Donald's Elmira— This new variety, called by some Vick's Mammoth, is attracting a great deal of attention throughout pe country 

 originating with Mr. Donald, a leading market gardner. of Elmira, N. Y. The stalks are exceptionally tender and succulent. Its mamnioin 

 size can be realized from the fact that a bunch of twelve stalks will average four pounds in weight. Pkt. 4c; oz. 7c; i oz. use, /4 id. 

 18c: y z lb. 34c; lb. 60c , „ v „, b „„, 



™.„%7 Palmetto— This new Asparagus, from South Carolina, is now quite extensively grown by Southern gardeners (or New lork ana 

 Philadelphia markets, where it sells at very high prices, owing to its mammoth size and regularity An average bunch of Mt ee ° s " 00 ^ 

 will measure thirteen to fourteen inches in circumference. In past seasons this /Vsparagus has reached northern markets ten days aneau oi 

 aU other varieties, and sold at fabulous prices. Although of Southern origin, it is equally well adapted to north or soutn. rai. *c, »«• 



''Bar^s Mammtth— Th&' fine 1 variety has brought in market thirty cents a bunch, when other Asparagus was selling | » r «« 

 fifteen cents. The stalks are very large, frequently an inch in diameter, with few scales, and retain their ^f*"?^ completely ^ to me 

 top of the shoots, and have clear, round heads. They are quick growing, stalks very tender and succulent, entirely free from woooy nore, 

 and makes shoots fit for market or family use in one day. Pkt. 3c; oz. 5c; 2 oz. 8c; V4 lb. 12c. ; V4 .">• 22c. i Id. fac 



Conover's Colossal— A standard variety of large size and delicious quality. Certainly one of the best varieties grown, xrst. «c, 

 oz. 5c; 3 oz. 8c; V* lb. 12c; »/ 2 lb. 22c; lb. 35c 



SPECIAL NOTICE. 



Ofi many occasions we have received 

 requests from our customers to furnish 

 extra large sized Asparagus Boots. To 

 meet this demand we have especially 

 grown a few acres of these roots, which 

 are particularly adapted for the home 

 garden or those gardeners who desire 

 Immediate results. Our prices to one 

 and all as long as our extra large sized 

 3 and 4-year-old roots last will be as 

 follows: Any of the 5 varieties listed on 

 this page only $1.50 per 100, §12.50 per 

 1,000, shipped by express or freight at 

 buyer's expense. 



If for any reason roots are desired by 

 mail, postage must be added at the rate 

 of $1.00 per 100 to prices quoted above. 



n n j Mv Asoaraaus Roots are grown from (he choicest stock seed 



Asparagus Roots ? n V7eaS^ 



A saving of two to three years is effected by Planting roots, ^«« e * 0U be £ w eT S? 

 SELECT, SxRONG, TWO-TEAR-OLD ROOTS, and am.conhdent they Y'u £itf c e ]o w pricerare 

 way. Don't be misled in planting one-year-old or Verier Roots. The f oUow i"S P£g* are 

 for Roots carefully packed* and slipped: by t express or freight at ■ by maU? 



exception of price per dozen, which Is postpata. (If for any reason roo^ are ae ^" u * 

 po ? ta\e must V added at the rate of fifty cents per bundred to the foUgwmg P£e») ; 



Columbian Mammoth White 20 i, er 100, 60c; per 1,000, S5.00 



Donald's Elmira |« 15c> . fa i 0, 50c; per 1,000, $4.00 



New Palmetto... Per dozen 16c- per 100, 50c; per 1,000, $3.75 



Conover's Colossal Per dozen, 15c; per 190, 50c; per 1,000, $4.00 



^riftf^ts^at 100 WteV«>0 at 1.000 rati"" Special prices will be quoted for larger quan- 

 titles on application. 



ARTICHOKE. 



German ■ A fS? c 5 £? 



French ff* 10 ^* 



Spanish •fl ca f ho i*' 



Swedish Artskocka 



THIS Is the French Artichoke, the large flower buds of which are so highly esteemed by 

 epicures, and is very different from the plant cultivated for its fleshy roots or tubers. 

 CULTURE— Sow in hot-beds during February or March, and transplant so as to give plenty 

 of room until danger of frost Is over, and then set in very rich, well drained soil in rows four 

 feet apart and two feet apart in the rows. The rlauts can be raised in seed beds out of doors, 

 but in that case will not be likely to produce heads the first year. The edible portion is the 

 undevloped flower heads, which are produced from about September 1st until frost. Late 

 in the fall cut off the old tops and thoroughly protect the crowns with leaves or straw, to prevent 

 severe freezing. The second year thin the starting shoots to three of the best, which will com- 

 mence to form bead? about July 1st. The plants may also be blanched like Cardoons, which is 

 accomplished by cutting back the grewing stems in July close to the ground, when the young 

 and rapldlv growing shoots which start up may be tied and blanched like Celery- As Artichoke 

 plants do not yield satisfactorily after three or four years, it is best to start a new plantation 

 at least as often as once in three years. 



LARGE GLOBE, OR PARIS — The best sort for general use. Bude large, nearly round, scales 

 pele green, shading to violet at the base, very thlek and fleshy. Pkt. 6c, ; oz. 25c. 



Order your seeds from Buckbee's Roekford Seed Farms this year— yon will get 

 more good seeds tor the money than from any other seedsman* Compare my prices and 

 see bow much money I save you. 



LARGE GLOBE, OR PARIS. 



BUCKBEE'S ASPARAGUS ROOTS GUARANTEED TO REACH YOU SAFELY. 



