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



VEGETABLE SEEDS 



4 RTIGHOKE 



ASPARAGUS, Columbian Mammoth White. 



Culture.— Sow in hot-beds 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 pro- 

 duce 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. This is accomplished by cutting 

 back in July the stems close to the ground; the rapidly growing 

 shoots which then start up may be tied and blanched like Celery. 

 As Artichoke plants do not yield satisfactorilj^ 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 JJSu'll'^Sis^fafS: 



nearly round; scales pale green, shading to violet at the base, 

 very thick and fleshy. This is the French Artichoke, the large 

 flower buds of which are so highly esteemed by epicures, and is 

 very dilferent from the plant cultivated for its fleshy roots or 

 tubers. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 40c; 2 Oz. 7.5c: h Lb. $1.25; Lb. $4.00 



Asparagus... 



Asparagus is one of the earhest spring vegetables, and would 

 be in universal use were it not for the mistaken idea that it is diffi- 

 cult to grow. In reality it can be produced very easily and cheaply. 

 It does best in a moist, sandy soil, but can be grown in any garden 

 by following the dii-ections given here. A bed 15x50 feet, requir- 

 ing about 100 plants, should give an abundant supply for an ordi- 

 nary family. 



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 yourself, 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 cultiva- 

 tion 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 thor- 

 ough 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 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. 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. If well cultivated and ma- 

 nured the bed should give a full crop the following season and 

 continue productive for eight or ten years. 



rnNOVPP'^ rni n^s^AI a mammoth, green sort of 

 t/UilU V CIV o V/ULUOO/\L, the largest size and of good 

 ,; quality. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 15c; % Lb. 20c; Lb. 50c. 



if Strong roots 90 cents per 100, postpaid; large, tivo year old 

 roots 50 cents per 100 by freight or express, not prepaid. 



¥¥* 



Columbian 



Mammoth White . . 



This most distinct aud valuable Asparagus was introduced by 

 us in 1893. 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. All 

 but a very few of the seedlings will produce clear white shoots. 

 and the green ones can be readily distinguished and rejected when 

 setting the permanent bed. 



Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 15c; ^ Lb. 25c; Lb. 75c 



Strong roots SI -00 per lOO, postpaid; large, tivo year old roots 

 60 cents per 100 by freight or express, not prepaid. 



