VEGETABLE SEEDS 



BeckerVs Seed Store, 101 and 103 Federal St., N. S., Pittsburgh, Pa. 



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. 



A «— f-{ /^V?"0 Sow early in spring and transplant the following spring to permanent beds in 



.iVl L 1L 1 lUlvtJ rows or hills 3 feet apart. 



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 y< i 

 in to a depth of 2 feet or more. The roots should b 



Plenty of fertilizer should be well trenched 

 planted as early in the spring as the ground can be 

 prepared, setting them a foot apart in rows 2, 2J-^, 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 

 aboul I00 plants. Fair crops may be expected the third year from seed. 



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



ft 



Giant Argenteuil. A French variety of mammoth size 

 oz. 15 cts., V 4 lb. 35 cts., lb. $1. 



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

 Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 10 cts., V 4 lb. 25 cts., lb. 75 cts. 



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

 green; stalks tender and of good flavor. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 10 cts., l A\h. 

 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., l A\h. 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 42. 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE, by F. M. Hexamer. 75 cts., postpaid. 



The Choicest Beans 



Giant Argenteuil Asparagus 



AND HOW TO 

 GROW THEM 



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]/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 mak- 

 ing 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., pt. 35 cts., 

 qt. 60 cts., 2 qts. $1.15. 

 Black Valentine. (55 days.) Pods long, 

 straight, round, and early: of good quality and 

 a heavy yielder; rust-proof. Pkt. 10 cts., 

 pt. 35 cts., qt. 60 cts., 2 qts. $1.15. 

 Stringless Green-Pod. (60 days.) Pods entirely 

 stringless, very full and fleshy; remain crisp and 

 tender until Beans are fully developed. Pkt. 10 cts., 

 pt. 35 cts., qt. 65 cts., 2 qts. $1.25. 



Giant Stringless Green-Pod 



t See illustration of two typical pods 



Slightly later in season than Stringless Green-Pod 

 or Bountiful, but a most dependable yielder of hand- 

 some round-podded Beans which are fleshy and 

 absolutely stringless at all stages of development. 

 Both Giant Stringless Green-Pod and Stringless 

 Geen-Pod described alongside are particularly recom- 

 mended for heavy clay soils. Pkt. 10 cts., pt. 35 cts., 

 qt. 65 cts., 2 qts. $1.25. 



"Why so many varieties?" is a seemingly very just question which our customers often raise. The answer is that 

 every one of the varieties we offer has one valuable characteristic or another which makes it desirable for some soil, sea- 

 son, or climate. We serve customers in nearly every state in the Union, and it is in an endeavor to serve all of them in a 

 hundred-point fashion that we offer the best and most reliable varieties in each class of vegetables. 



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