D. M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH. 



This is the French Artichoke, the 

 large flower buds of which are so highly- 

 esteemed by epicures, and is very dif- 

 ferent from the plant cultivated tor 

 its fleshy roots or tubers. 



Artichoke 



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 plants 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 undeveloped 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 commence to form heads about July 1st. 

 The plants may also be blanched like Cardoons, which is accomplished by cutting back 

 the growing stems in July close to the ground, when the yoimg and rapidly 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 once 

 in three years at least. 



LARGE GLOBE The best sort for general use. Buds large, nearly round; scales deep 

 green, shading to purple, very thick and fleshy. 



Price, Pkt. 5c; Oz. 35c; 2 Oz. 60c; \ Lb. $1.00; Lb. $3.50 



ARTICHOKE. 



ASPARAGUS 



M^^ 



Asparagus is one of the earliest spring vegetables, and 



would be in universal use were it not for the mistaken 



idea that it is difScult to grow, when in reality it can be 



§^^^ produced very easily and cheaply. It delights in a moist, 



X^^^ ,_ ^ii<iSw .-^ 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 one 

 or two years old, which can be procured of us, but if you 

 wish to grow them yourself, pour hot water on the seed and 

 allow it to stand until cool, pour it off and repeat with fresh 

 hot water once or twice and then sow in 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 cultivation 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 spad- 

 ing and thoroughly enriching the ground with stable manure 

 or other fertilizers. 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 culti- 

 vate well as long as the size of the plants will permit or until 

 they begin to die down. The next season the bed may be cut 

 over two or three times, but if this is done, all the shoots, no 

 matter how small, should be cut, and after the final cutting, 

 give a good dressing of manure, ashes and salt, and frequent 

 cultivation, tUl the plants meet in the rows. In autumn after 

 the tops are fully ripe and yellow they should be cut and 

 burned. The next season the bed should give a full crop, and 

 if well cultivated and manured wiU continue to do so for 

 several years. 



CONOVER'S COLOSSAL a mammoth green sort of the 

 largest size and of good quality. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 

 15c; %Lb. 20c; Lb. 50c. 



Strong Roots 90 cents per 100 postpaid; 50 cents per 100 by 

 freight or express not prepaid. 



pOLUMBIAN MAMMOTH WHITE 



^^ This most distinct and valuable Asparagus was in- 



troduced by us in 1893, and is the result of patient work and 

 careful selection by the originator, extending over eight gen- 

 erations from the original plant. The immense shoots are 

 clear white, and in favorable weather remain so until three 

 or four inches above the surface. The crown or bud of the 

 young stalk is considerably smaller than the part just below 

 it, thus further distinguishing the variety. The largest, hand° 

 somest and best Asparagus in existence. Requires no 

 Earthing up to furnish the white shoots which are so much 

 sought after. All but a very few of the seedlings will pro- 

 duce clear white shoots, and the green ones can be readily dis- 

 tinguished and rejected when setting the permanent bed. 

 No other Asparagus compares with this for canning, or 

 lor Market Gardeners. 



Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 15c; % Lb. 25c; Lb. 80c. 

 Strong Roots $1.25 per 100 postpaid; large two year old 

 roots 15 cents per 100 by freight or express not prepaid. 



'COLUMBIAN MAMMOTH WHITE ASPARAGUS. 



JL^P No 



AN 



GUbTURB 



No crop responds more readily to good soil and 

 cultivation than this. The soil best adapted to them 

 is a light, rich, well drained loam, which was manured for the 

 previous crop. If too rank manure is used it is apt to make 

 them grow too much to vine. Beans are extremely sensitive 

 to both cold and wet, and it is useless to plant them before 

 the ground has become dry and warm. The largest return 

 will result from planting in drills from two to three feet apart 

 and leaving two to six plants to the foot of row. Up to the 



time of blossoming they should have frequent shallow culti- 

 vation, but any cutting of the roots after the plants come into 

 bloom is liable to cause the blossoms to blast and so cut off the 

 crop. Remember that beans should always be cultivated very 

 shallow, and that it is useless to expect a crop from a field so 

 poorly prepared as to need deep stirring after planting. 



From one pint to two quarts will be sufficient to furnish a 

 supply for an ordinary family, and varieties should be selected 

 so as to give a succession both of string and green shelled 

 beans. The wax podded beans are particularly liable to run 

 off into green podded plants, and it requires constant atten- 

 tion and skillful selection to keep them pure, so that it is 

 especially important to use only seed from reliable sources. 



