10 



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



VEGETABLE SEEDS 



^=wiTH ge:neral directions for cultivation=== 



TW ^ • H E CULTURE— Sow in hotbeds in February or March and transplant so as 



J ^ W% g 9 ^~^ H^ if^ M^ jjT^ to give plenty of room until danger of frost is over. Then set in very 

 f % I %jf 9 \^ WL ■ \^ M^ ^C? ^'*^^' "^^'^^^ drained soil in rows four feet apart and two feet apart in the 



row. The plants can be raised in seed beds ovit of doors, but in that 

 case will not be likely to produce heads the first year. The plant we offer is the true articholce 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 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 satisfactorily after three or four years, it is best to start a new plantation at least as often as once in three years. 



Larg 



er^ Inhfk nv Po rlc The best sort for general use. Buds large, nearly round; scales pale green, shading to 

 vaiuuu, ui J <»"»« violet at the base, very thick and fleshy. Pkt.6c; Oz.40c; 2 Oz.75c; %Lb.$1.25; Lb.$4.00 



A ^^ ^ •^ Asparagus is one of the earliest spring vegetables and would be in universal 



^^ BM^fc l^^fe C% m I ^^ ^^® ^yev& it not for the mistaken idea that it is difficult to grow. In reality 

 ^5 mJf^M- M S^ S^ ^41 C5 ^^ ^^^ ^® produced very easily and cheaply. It does best in a moist, sandy 

 a"^ ^r? ^*^^^' ^^'^ *^^^ ^^ grown in any garden by following the directions given here, 



=^^==^===12:=^=::=: A bed 15 x50 feet, requiring about 100 plants, shoifld 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. 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 soU. 

 When the plants are well up, thin to about one inch apart and give frequent and thorough cultivation during the sum- 

 mer. 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 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 

 Bhoots, no matter how small, should be cut. After the final cutting, give a good dressing of manure, ashes and salt. Cul- 

 tivate 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 manured, the bed should give a full crop the following season and continue pro- 

 ductive for eight or ten years. 



CONOVER'S COLOSSAL, a mammoth, green sort of the largest size and of good quality, Pkt. 6c; Oz. 10c; 



2 Oz. 16c; ^ Lb. 25c; Lb. 7oc. Strong roots $1.25 per 100 , postpaid. Large., two yea.r old roots, 75 cents per 100 by freight 



or express, not prepaid. 

 Pfll ill\IRIA\i IViAMMOTH lA/HITF This most distinct and valuable asparagus was introduced by us in 1893 

 l/Ul'lJliBlll^ll IfimvllTIU B IB Tf IBB B B- and was the 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 foi'. The immense 

 ■ shoots are clear white and in favorable wfeather 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 v,'ill produce clear white shoots, and the green ones can be readily distinguished and re- 

 jected when setting the permanent bed. Sold out. 



Strong roots Si. 25 per 100, postpaid. Large, two year old roots, 75 cents per 100 by freight or express, not prepaid. 



CULTURE— No crop responds more readily to good soil and cultivation than this. 

 The soil best adapted to it 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 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 ground has become 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 fre- 

 quent shallow cultivation, but any mutilation 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. 

 Remember that the cultivation of beans should always be very shallow, and that it is 

 useless to expect a crop from a field so poorly prepared as to need deep stirring after 

 planting. 



Varieties should be selected so as to give a succession both of string and green 

 shelled beans. The wax podded varieties will degenerate into a mixture of green and 

 wax podded plants unless there is constant attention given to the removing of any 

 green podded plants v.iiich 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, 



DKARF, BUSH OK SNAP— »'="'sJSf' ' 



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 JfS^/^ScVSStSd 



us of the great merit of this variety as the earliest wax podded bean. The enormous 

 demand for it proves that it meets popular requirements, and has all the sterling qual- 

 ities 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. The best early wax bean for the market garden. 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. The dry beau is jet black, longer, more curved and 

 flatter than the Prolific German Wax. Ci'op failed. 



REFUGEE WAX— We have taken especial pains with this variety, which, as we grow 

 it, is one of the very best in cultivation. The stock we offer is much superior to that 

 commonly sold, being very early. Every plant can be depended upon to produce thick, 

 fleshy, wax-like pods of fine quality and of a clear Avaxy-white color, none of the 

 plants being green podded. Seed drab, heavily splashed with chocolate brown. 

 Pkt. 10c; Pt. 26c; Qt. 40c; 4 Qts. $1.60; Bushel $8.00 



If Beans are ordered by mail or express, prepaid, add 10 cents per pint, 15 cents per quart, 



for chari 



