D. M. FERRY &l CC S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



EQETABLE 



5 



^ENERAL jj 



ENERAL 1 )IRECTIONS f^^ (ULTIVATION 



EEDS 



(Jli 



The Terms and Prices of Vegetable Seeds will be found in the Price List, in the back part of this Catalogue. 



ARTICHOKE. 



French. Artichaut. German. Artischoke. 

 CuLTTRE.— Sow in hot-beds and transplant into pots, or so 

 as to give plenty of room until danger of frost is over, and 

 then set in very rich ground, in rows four feet apart and two 

 feet apart in the rows: or 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'undevel- 

 ojjed flower heads, which will be produced about September 

 1st, and until frost. Late in the fall cut off the old tops and 

 protect the cro^^Tis with leaves or straw to prevent severe 

 freezing. The second year they -n-ill commence to form 



ARTICHOKE. 



heads about July 1st. The plants may also be blanched like 

 Cardoons. 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 after cutting, 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 once in three years at least. 



LARGE GLOBE. — The best sort for general use. Buds 

 large, nearly round: scales deep green, shading to purple, 

 very thick and tleshy. 



ASPARAGUS. 



French. Asperge. German, Spargel. 

 Asparagus is one of the earliest spring vegetables, and 

 would be in universal use were it not for the prevalent idea 

 that it is difficult to grow it. We think this is a mistake, and 

 that there is no vegetable on our list that can be produced so 

 cheaply and easily as this. It delights in a moist, sandy soil, 

 but can be grown in any garden by following the directions 

 given below. A bed 15x50 feet, requiring 50 to 75 plants, 

 should give an abundant supply for an ordinary familj-. 



CuLTCRE.— 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, prepare a light, rich spot as early 

 as possible in the spring. Pour boiling water on the seed and 

 pour it off at onct. and sow in drills one foot apart and two 

 inches deep. When the plants are well up, thin to two or 

 three inches in the row. and give frequent and thorough cul- 

 tivation 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 ploughing or spading 

 and thoroughly enriching the 

 ground with stable manure 

 or other fertilizers. If the sub- 

 soil is not naturally loose and 

 friable, it should be made so 

 by thoroughly stirring with 

 a subsoil ploAv or the spade. 

 Make rows five feet apart and 

 four inches deep and set the 

 plants in the bottom of the 

 rows two to three feet 

 apart, the latter distance be- 

 ing preferable. Cover the 

 roots about two inches deep. 

 After the plants are well 

 started, give frequent and 

 thorough cultivation and 

 draw a little earth into the 

 furrows at each hoeing until 

 they are filled. Early the 

 next spjring spade in a heavy 

 dressing of manure, and one 

 quart of salt to each square 

 rod and cultivate well until 

 the plants begin to die down. 

 The next season the bed may 

 be cut over two or three 

 times, but if this is done all 

 the short shoots, no matter COLUMBIAN MAMMOTH WHITE, 

 how small, should be cut, 



and after the final cutting, give a good dressing of manure, 

 ashes and salt. The next season, and ever after that, the bed 

 should give a full crop and be annually dressed with manure, 

 ashes and salt, after the last cutting, and well, but not deeply, 

 cultivated until the plants occupy the whole space. In the 

 autumn, as soon as the tops are ripe and yellow, they should 

 be cut and burned. The plants may also be set in autumn, if 

 the ground is so well drained that water will not stand on it. 

 Winter protection with coarse litter or manure is not needed, 

 except in the extreme North. 



COLU.MBIAN MAMMOTH WHITE.- We believe this 

 to be the most distinct and valuable variety m cultivation. 

 Not onlv are the stalks of the largest size, but they are pro- 

 duced abundantly and very early. They are clear white and 

 remain so. in favorable weather, until three or four inches 

 above the surface. The crown or bud of the young stalk is 

 considerablv smaller than the part just below it : thus still 

 further distinguishing the variety. Wherever known this 

 sort commands an extra price, not only on a fancy market, 

 but from canners. who find that when put up. under a si:»ecial 

 brand, it sells so readily at a hierh price as to warrant them 

 paying the grower an e"xtra price for it. From ten to twenty 

 percent, of the plants grown from seed will produce green 

 shoots, but these plants can be readily distinguished and 

 rejected when setting the permanent bed. 



CONOVER'S COLOSSAL.— A mammoth green sort of the 

 largest size and of gooil quality. The best of the old kinds. 



PALMETTO.— A sort which has proven verj- popular with 

 many gardeners: produces a moderate mnnber of shoots but 

 these are very large and of the finest quality. 



