Beckert's Superior Vegetable Seeds 



Seeds of Superior Quality and Strong Vitality 



Our Vegetable Seed Department embraces nearly all varieties that are desirable or of known value, together with the more 

 important of recent introductions. The list has been carefully selected, and the descriptions given are chiefly derived from our own 

 experience and observation. We have endeavored to make them as accurate and helpful as possible, in order to aid the purchaser 

 in making selections. * 



Sow early in 

 hills 3 feet apart. 



ARTICHOKE 



spring and transplant the following spring to permanent beds in rows or 



Large Green Globe. The best for general use. Flower-heads should be 

 gathered as fast as formed, when they are tender and of fine flavor. Pkt. 25 cts., 

 oz. $1.50. Plants, in April, $1.75 per doz. 



Jerusalem. Distinct from the above. Propagated from its tubers. Useful 

 for the table and for stock. Qt. 25 cts., pk. $1.25, bus. $4. (Subject to 

 market changes.) 



ASPARAGUS 



A bed once properly made and planted will last for years. Plenty of fertilizer 

 should be well trenched in to a depth of 2 feet or more. The roots should be 

 planted as early in the spring as the ground can be prepared, setting them a foot 

 apart in rows 2, 234, or 3 feet apart, with the crowns from 4 to 6 inches below 

 the surface of the bed. Asparagus seed may be sown directly in the permanent 

 bed, and the plants thinned as they grow; or it may be sown elsewhere, and the 

 seedlings transplanted the second year. An ounce of seed will sow 50 feet of drill 

 and produce about 300 plants. Fair crops may be expected the third year from seed. 



Giant Argenteuil. A French variety of mammoth size. Pkt. 5 cts., 

 oz. 15 cts., ^lb. 35 cts., lb. $1. 



Palmetto. Early; stalks fine in size and quality; regular in growth. Pkt. 

 5 cts., oz. 10 cts., !/ilb. 25 cts., lb. 75 cts. 



Colossal. A desirable variety and one much grown. Very large; deep green; 1 

 Stalks tender and of good flavor. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 10 cts., ^lb. 20 cts., lb. 60 cts./ 



Columbian Mammoth White. Stalks pure white. Of extra-fine quality!! 

 and very tender, without a trace of stringiness; flavor is of the best. Pkt. 5 cts., 

 oz. 10 cts., Vilb. 25 cts., lb. 75 cts. 



ASPARAGUS ROOTS. By planting Asparagus Roots instead of the seeds, 

 much time can be saved in getting the shoots ready for table or market. Plant in spring, as early as possible. 

 See Vegetable Plants, page 35. 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE, by F. M. Hexamer. 80 cts., postpaid. 



i 4_ 



Giant Argenteuil Asparagus 



li\ 



Parcel-post weight of Beans: 

 Pint, 1 lb.; quart, 2 lbs. 



CHOICEST BEANS 



AND HOW TO 

 GROW THEM 



Full 



Measure 



Beans are among the most satisfactory vegetables for the home garden, since they thrive in all sections and 

 in a great variety of soils. While crops will, of course, be best on soils well enriched with manure, good crops of 

 Beans may be raised even on poor soil, providing you plant prolific kinds and cultivate freely. Cultivation in 

 connection with Beans will offset greatly any lack of fertility in the soil. As a rule it is not safe to plant Beans 

 until the ground has become thoroughly warm, generally after the middle of May. The rows should be placed 

 from 2 to 2% feet apart, and seeds dropped about 4 inches apart in the row, to be covered with from 2 to 4 inches 

 of soil, the greater depth in light soils, shallower in deep soils. For a succession of crops make repeated sowings 

 up to August 1, of one and the same varieties or of varieties maturing in succession^ (Number of days given after 

 leading sorts indicate when crop is ready for gathering.) Throughout July sow varieties which will require less than 

 60 days in which to bear pods. Please remember, in connection with growing Beans, that pods should never be 

 picked while the vines are wet. This will spread rust and the leaf-spot disease which will cut short the crop, besides 

 making pods unfit for use. Successive sowings of 20-foot rows, made at intervals of about two weeks, will give a 

 plentiful supply of Beans for a family of five throughout the season. One quart of seed will sow 300 feet of drill. 



THE BEST GREEN-PODDED SORTS 



Improved Red Valentine. (50 days.) Pods round, thick, and solid; early, tender, and of fine flavor. Pkt. 

 10 cts., lb. 30 cts., 2 lbs. 50 cts., 5 lbs. $1.25, 15 lbs. $3. 



Black Valentine. (55 days.) Pods long, straight, round, and early; of good quality and a heavy yielder; 

 rust-proof. Pkt. 10 cts., lb. 30 cts., 2 lbs. 50 cts., 5 lbs. $1.25, 15 lbs. $3. 



Stringless Green-Pod. (60 days.) Pods entirely stringless, very full and fleshy; remain crisp and tender until 

 Beans are fully developed. Pkt. 10 cts., lb. 30 cts., 2 lbs. 55 cts., 5 lbs. $1.25, 15 lbs. $3. 



FULL MEASURE. (See illustration at left.) A well-named, round-podded, green, stringless Bush Bean 

 of extraordinary yielding power. The plants are thrifty and bear early, generally within 65 days after seeds are 

 sown. Pods average 6 to 6Y 2 inches long, vary from slightly curved to straight, are deeply saddle-backed, tender, 

 and of finest quality — always. Bearing clusters of two to four pods, this sort is as fine a basket-filler as we know, 

 comparing favorably with Bountiful and other good sorts described on page 5. Pkt. 10 cts., lb. 30 cts., 

 2 lbs. 55 cts., 5 lbs. $1.35, 15 lbs. $3. 



