28 



Harrison's N\arseries, Berlin, Md. 



"WHITE GRAPB— The best white currant and very distinct from White Dutch, having a low 

 spreading habit and dark green foliage; bunch is moderately long; berries large, sweet or very mild acid; 

 excellent quality and valuable for the table. Very productive. 



CHKRRY — The largest of all red currants, berries sometimes measuring a half inch in diameter; 

 bunches short; fine for preserving and a valuable market variety; plant very vigorous and productive when 

 grown on good soils and well cultivated. 



RED DUTCH — The standard old variety, excellent and well known, larger than the common red 

 and clusters much larger and less acid. One of the best red currants; bush an upright grower and a good 

 bearer and a very profitable market sort. 



ASPARAGUS. 



Asparagus is equal to a dish of early green peas. It makes a 

 better dish when cooked (like peas) in cream thickened with a 

 little flour. The first vegetable of the spring. It is usually 

 planted on a light soil to have it earh-, though it can be grown in 

 good garden soil. The net income is usually from jioo to $400 per 

 acre. When once set it is good for 15 or 20 3-ears. In preparing 

 asparagus for market, cut 4 or 5 inches under the ground, when 

 from 2 to 4 inches high. When planting asparagus roots set 4 to 6 

 inches deep, and about 12 inches apart in the row, covering with 

 onls' 3 inches of soil at first, and filling in the trenches as fche 

 plants grow. 



The asparagus bed is apt to be neglected in the earlj' fall. 

 Before the ist of September the tops should be cut and the bed or 

 field cleared of weeds. It is highly- important that all the seed 

 should be taken off, as the greatest enem}- the asparagus has in 

 the wa\- of weeds is asparagus, and it is almost impossible to get 

 clear of superfluous plants, when once established. When this 

 work is flnished, cover the bed to the depth of 3 inches with coarse 

 manure, which will not onh- enrich the soil, but will keep out the 

 frost, which is highly essential. 



The flrst work in spring should be to remove all the cover- 

 ing except the fine manure, which should be carefullj- forked in, 

 so that the crowns will not be injured by the tines of the fork. 

 Forking the beds should not be neglected, as the early admission 

 of the sun and rain into the ground induces the plants to throw 

 up shoots of superior size. Another step in the right direction is 

 to keep the ground entirely free from weeds the entire season, as 

 these take from the plants the strength required for their own 

 growth, and the asparagus needs it all. 



Although there is a difference of opinion as to the benefit of 

 salt on asparagus, most of the best growers on Long Island cover 

 their beds with salt as soon as the ground is cleared and the 

 manure forked in in the spring, to a depth of half an inch in some 

 cases. Although that much may not be required, it certainh- does no harm, but an application of salt so 

 that the ground appears as if covered with snow is considered by many an absolute necessity- if the best 

 results are to be expected. 



Varieties. 



GIANT ARGBNTBUII/— This variety was originally a selection for imported French Argenteuil 

 stock, but has been both acclimated and improved, and is very much superior to the original stock. It 

 has been grown for several years by some of the leading and mos't successful truckers near Charleston, S. 

 C, aud is pronounced far superior to the Palmetto or any other variety' in earliness, productiveness, and 

 size of stalks produced. 



Mr. W. C. Gerat3', one of the largest truckers in the south, writes regarding same, as follows: "It is 

 superior in every waj' to the Palmetto, as I have been growing asparagus for thirty years, and have grown 

 both Palmetto aud Argenteuil, and there is as much drfference between this Argenteuil and the Palmetto 



as there is between Conover's Collossal and Palmetto, and 

 from my personal experience with Conover's Colossal and 

 the Palmetto, the Palmetto is twice the size of the Colossal 

 and longer lived, and I consider the Argenteuil twice the 

 size of Palmetto, earlier, more prolific and longer lived." 



rr*TS^r»TTr?^rrTTr*T?^^*T»vrrrr»?rrrr^^»Trr« 



Md., April 24, 1901. 

 J. G. Harrison:— -My asparagus roots 

 arrived yesterday in fine condition and 

 perfectlj' satisfactory. Enclosed please 

 find check for bill amounting to ^5.00. 

 Respectfullv, 



T. C. Mc'Cracker. 



Messrs. Lowel Bros. andBaile}-, large produce com- 

 mission merchants of Boston, state 'that it sold from 5i-oo 

 to .J3.00 per dozen bunches higher than any other sort on 

 the Boston market. Only one-j'ear roots, Si. 00 per doz. 

 liJiSjti^jt^MiJiAiijujiiiJiSJUASJUJUJt^^ by mail, ?2.50 per loo'by express, Sio.oo per 1000. 



DONAI/D'S EI/MIRA— This new asparagus has 

 attracted much attention through New York state, where it was originated b}- Mr. A. Donald, a prominent 

 market gardener of Elmira. He has always realized handsome prices, and although a large grower, was 

 unable to supplv half the demand. The'delicate green color Is noticeable, different from either the 

 famous Barr's Philadelphia Mammoth or Palmetto, while the stocks are more tender and succulent. Its 

 mammoth size can be realized from the fact that in the whole crops of bunches of twelve stalks will aver- 

 age four pounds in weight. It requires much less labor in cutting and bunching, thus lessening the ex- 

 pense of marketing. Strong i-year roots, 50c per doz. by mail; Si.oo per 100 by express; $4.00 per 

 XOQO. 2-year roots 75c per doz. by mail; $1.00 per 100 by express; §5.00 per 1000. 



