D. M. FERRY & GO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 



VEGETABLE SEEDS 



With General Directions for Cultivation 



^yirtichoKe 



Culture— Sow in hotbeds in February or March and transplant so as to give 

 plenty of room until danger of frost is over. Then set in very rich, well drained 



soil in rows four feet apart and two feet apart in the row. 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 seed we offer is that of 

 the true artichoke which is a very popular vegetable in Europe. In it the edible portion is the thickened scales at the 

 base of the flower heads or buds. The plant is very different from what is known in America as Artichoke, or Jerusalem 

 Artichoke, in which the edible portion is the tuber. 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. This is accom- 

 plished by cutting back the stems close to the ground in July, the rapidly growing shoots which then 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. 



I rkwtia C\\t\V\{> f\r Paric ^he best sort for general use. Buds large, nearly round; scales pale green, shading to vio- 

 Ldr^tS VJ8UUC, UI ra\ l> let at the base, very thick and fleshy. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 40c; 2 Oz. 75c; %; l.b. $1.25; Lb. $4.«»0 



^yi^pciragii4! 



Culture— Beds are usually formed by setting plants one or two years old, 

 which can be procured of us. If you wish to grow plants from the seed your- 



self, pour hot, but not boiling, water on the seed and let stand until cool; pour 



it off and repeat two or three times with fresh hot water. 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 pre- 

 pared by deep plowing or spading and thoroTighly enriching the ground with stable manure or other fertilizer; a moist, 

 sandy soil is best. If the subsoil is not naturally loose and friable, it should be made so by thoroughly stirring with a 

 subsoil plow or 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 about one quart of salt and double the quantity of fresh wood ashes to each square rod and cultivate 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 bow small, should be cut. After the final cutting, 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. A bed 15x50 feet, requiring about one hundred plants, if 

 well cultivated and manured, should give the following season an abundant supply for an ordinary family and continue 

 productive for eight or ten years. 



CONOVER'S COLOSSAL. A mammoth, green sort of the largest size and of good quality. Pkt.Sc; Oz.lOc; 20z.l5c;%Lb.20c; 



Lb. 50c. Strong roots $1.00 per 100, postpaid. Large two year old roots, 60 cents per 100 by freight or express, not prepaid. 



r'nliimKian MAmmrkfh Whifo This most distinct and valuable asparagus was introduced by us in 1893 and was the 



V/UIUIIlUiail /TiailllllUlli TT IIIIC result of patient work and careful selection by the originator, thus obviating the 



necessity of earthing up to produce the white shoots which are so much sought for. The immense shoots are clear white 



and in favorable weather re- — — 



main 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 distinguish- 

 ing the variety. All but 

 a very few of the seed- 

 lings will produce clear 

 white shoots, and the 

 green ones can be readily 

 distinguished and reject- 

 ed when setting the 

 permanent bed. 

 Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 

 2 Oz. 15c; 

 %Lb. 20c; 

 Lb. 60c. 



Strong roots $1.25 per 

 100, postpaid. 



Large two 

 year old 

 roots,75 cts. 

 per 100 by 

 freight or 

 express,not 

 prepaid. 



Challenge Dwarf Black Wax Bean. 



If Beans are ordered by mail or express, prepaid, add 10 

 cents per pint, 15 cents per quart, for charges. 



BEANS 



Culture— No crop responds more readily to good soil and 

 cultivation and a light, rich, well drained loam, which was ma- 

 nured for the previous crop is most desirable. If too rank ma- 

 nure is used it is apt to make the plant run too much to vine. 

 Beans are extremely sensitive to both cold and wet, and it is 

 useless to plant them before the gi-ound has be- 

 come dry and warm. The largest return will result 

 from planting in drills from two to three feet apart 

 and leaving the plants two to six inches apart in 

 the row. Up to the time of blossoming they should 

 have frequent shallow cultivation, but any mutila- 

 tion of the roots by cultivation after the plants 

 come into bloom is likely to cause the blossoms to 

 blast and so cut off the crop. The cultivation of 

 beans should always be very shallow and it is use- 

 less to expect a crop from a field so poorly pre- 

 pared as to need deep stirring after planting. 



Varieties should be selected so as to give a suc- 

 cession both of string and green shelled beans. 

 The wax podded varieties will degenerate into a mix- 

 ture of green and wax podded plants unless there 

 is constant attention given to the removing of any 

 green podded plants which may appear in the seed 

 crop, and the constant selection of plants of the 

 highest type for stock seed. Hence it is especially 

 important to use seed from reliable sources only. 



DWARF. BUSH or SNAP-Wax-Poddcd Sorts 



Under this name are classed all the low growing 

 sorts called in different localities Bush,Bunch,Snap, 

 String or Dwarf Beans. We give careful attention 

 to selecting and improving the different varieties 

 and keeping them pure, and invite the most crit- 

 ical comparison of our stocks with those of any other 



grower. Challenge Dwarf Black Wax ... 



Introduced by us in 1891. Continued 

 experience has satisfied us of the 

 great merit of this variety as the ear- 

 liest wax-podded bean. The enormous 

 demand for it proves that it meets popular requirements and 

 has all the sterling qualities we claim for it. In all our many 

 comparisons of this bean with other extra early sorts, we 

 have found it the first to give a full picking of pods which 

 were unexcelled by any in quality. In growth and general 

 appearance the plants are the same as the old Black Wax or 

 Butter Bean, but are earlier and more productive. The pods 

 are clear waxy-white, quite round, very fleshy, crisp, tender 

 and stringless. Seed jet black, longer and more curved than 

 Prolific Wax. The best extra early wax bean for the home or 

 market garden. Pkt.l0f ;Pt.SOc; Qt.60c;4Qts $1.75;Bu.$10.00 



