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



13. 



ILLUSTRATED AND DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 



==^= OF ==z= 



VEGETABLE SEEDS 



WITH GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR CULTIVATION 



ARTICHOKE 



In February or March sow and transplant in hotbeds 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 verj' 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 Jerusa- 

 lem 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 done by cutting back tlie 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 as often as once in three years. 



f /^l U D • The best sort for general use. 



L.arge l^lOOe, or fans Plant vigorous and hardy, leaves 

 silver gray, ribs reddish at the base and without spines. Buds 

 large, nearly round; scales pale green, shading to violet at 

 the base. No other variety has such a broad, thick and fleshy 

 receptacle or bottom. Height of stem about two and one-half 

 to three feet. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 50c: 2 Oz. 85c; ^ Lb. $1.50; Lb. $5.00 



Large Globe, or Paris 



ASPARAGUS 



Beds are usually formed by setting roots one or two years old 

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

 seed 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 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 spading and thoroughly 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 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. A bed 15x50 feet, requiring- 

 about one hundred plants, if well cvxltivated and manured, should 

 give the following season an abundant supply for an ordinary family 

 and continue productive for eight or ten years. 



PI ** "^ very early maturing and prolific variety, produc- 

 JraimettO ing an abundance of very large, deep green shoots 



of the finest quality. SEED— Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 15c;^ Lb. 20c; 



Lb. 65c. ROOTS— Postpaid. $1.50 per 100; by freight or express, 



not prepaid, $1.00 per 100; $6.00 per 1000 



A very large, green sort, and of verj^ 

 good quality. One of the best known- 

 and most generally cultivated varieties. SEED— Pkt. 5c; Oz. lOcr 

 2 Oz. 15c; H Lb. 20c; Lb. 60c. ROOTS— Postpaid, $1.50 per 100? 

 by freight or express, not prepaid, $1.00 per 100; $6.00 per 1000 



Introduced by us in 

 1893. Shoots of largest 

 size and clear white until four to six inches above the surface. 

 Nearly all seedlings will produce clear white shoots and the green 

 ones can be readily rejected when setting out the permanent bed. 

 SEED-Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 15c; h Lb. 25c; Lb. 75c. ROOTS— 

 Postpaid, $1.50 per 100; by freight or express, not prepaid. $1.00 

 per 100; $6.50 per 1000 



Conover's Colossal 



Columbian Mammoth White 



