D. M. FERRY & CO’S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 9 
VEGETABLE « SEEDS 
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: WITH 
GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR CULTIVATION. 
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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. 
CeLTURE.—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 unde- 
veloped flower heads, which will be produced about Septem- 
ber Ist, and until frost. Late in the fall, cut off the old tops 
and protect the crowns with leaves or straw to prevent severe 
freezing. The second year they will commence to form 
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. 
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ARTICHOKE. 
LARGE GLOBE.—The best sort for general use. Buds 
large, nearly round; scales deep green, shading to purple, 
very thick and fleshy. - 
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 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, preparea light, rich spot as early 
as possible in the spring. Pour boi/ing water on the seed and 
pour it off at once, 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 subsoil is not naturally loose and 
friable, it should be made so by thorough stirring with a 
subsoil plow 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 being prefer- 
able. Cover the roots about two inches deep. After the 
plants are well started, give frequent and thorough cultiva- 
tion and draw a little earth into the furrows at each hoeing 
until they are filled. Early the next spring, 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 twc or three times, but 
if this is done all the short shoots, no matter how small, 
should be cut, and after the final cutting, give a good dress- 
ing 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. 
CONOVER’S COLOSSAL.—A mammoth sort, frequently 
sending up fifteen to thirty sprouts from one to one and a- 
half inches in diameter from a single plant, and spreading 
less than most sorts. Color deep green; quality good. 
BEANS. 
DWARF, BUSH OR SNAP. 
French, Havicot. German, Bohne. 
Under this name are classed all the low growing sorts 
called in different catalogues Bush, Bunch, Snap, String or 
Dwarf Beans. 
CULTURE.—NO crop responds more readily to good soil and 
cultivation than this; that best adapted to them being 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. They are all extremely sensi- 
tive to frost and wet, and it is useless to plant them before 
the ground has become warm and light. The largest return 
will result from planting in drills about three feet apart, and 
the plants two to eight inches apart in the row. Up to the 
time of blossoming they should have frequent shallow culti- 
vation, but during this period judgment and caution must be 
excreised as to culture, for very little disturbance of the roots 
may cause the plants to wilt, especially if the weather is hot 
and the ground dry, when the blossoms may fall without 
setting pods. Remember that Beans should always be culti- 
vated very shallow. 
In the following descriptions the varieties are placed about 
in the order of ripening, and it is assumed that they are grown 
on rich, light soil, as different soils produce quite a variation 
in vines, pods and beans, and it is useless to expect good 
results from the finer garden sorts on poor or cold and wet 
soils. 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 con- 
stant attention and skillful selection to keep them pure. 
Our stocks of Beans are all grown directly under our own 
personal care, large areas being planted each year on land 
owned or controlled by us. We give them the most careful 
attention in the way of selecting and improving the different 
varieties and keeping them pure, and we invite the most 
critical comparison of our stocks with those of any other 
growers. 
