10 
D. M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH. 
This is the French Arti- 
choke, the large flower 
budsof which areso 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 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 Car- 
doons, which is accomplished by cutting back the growing stems 
in July close to the ground, when the young and rapidly growing 
shoots which start up, may be tied and blanched like Celery. AS fff GR 7) 0: SRE ?OSSS 
Artichoke plants do not yield satisfactorily after three or four 
years, itis best to start a new plantation at least, as often as 
once in three years. 
The best sort for general use. HUNT 
LARGE GLOBE, or PARIS Buds large, meSrly round; Da AN) 
scales pale green, shading to violet at the base, very thick and 
fleshy. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 40c; 2 Oz. 75c; % Lb. $1.25; Lb. $4.00 
SN ee | 
| ARTICHOKE. 
—ASPARAGUS— 
_ ._Asparagus is one of the earliest spring vegetables, and would be in universal use were it not for the mistaken idea that it 
is difficult to grow, when in reality it can be produced very easily and cheaply. It delights in 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 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 
i during the summer. If this has been well done, the plants will be fit to set 
Ms, the next spring. The permanent beds should be prepared by deep plowing 
4 or spading 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 cultiva- 
tion. 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, and after the final cutting, give a good dressing of 
manure, ashes and salt, and frequent cultivation, till 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 eight or ten years. 
A mammoth, green sort of the largest size 
Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 20z. 15c; “4% Lb. 20c; Lb. 50c 
Strong roots 90 cents per 100 postpaid, large two year old roots 50 cents 
per 100 by freight or express not prepaid. 
OLUMBIAN— 
.-. MAMMOTH WHITE 
This most distinct and valuable Asparagus was introduced by us 
in 1898. 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 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; Lh. 75¢ 
~ Strong roots $1.25 per 100 postpaid; large two year old roots 75 cents 
CoLumBiAN MAMMOTH WHITE Asparacus. per 100 by freight or express not prepaid. 
Ni 
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f 
and leaving two to six plants to the foot of row. Up tothe 
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 
CULTURE 
BEA 
; 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 
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 itis 
especially important to use only seed from reliable sources. 
