10 
D. M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH. 
•• VEGETABLE SEEDS •• 
A RTICHOKE 
ARTICHOKE. 
Culture.— Sow in hot-beds in February or March, and transplant 
so as to give plenty of room until danger* of frost is over. 
Then set in very rich, well drained soil in rows four feet apart 
and two feet apart in the row. 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 undeveloped 
ilower heads which are produced from about September 1st until 
frost. Late in the fall cut off the old tops and thoroughly protect 
the crowns with leaves or straw, to prevent severe freezing. The 
second year thin the starting shoots to three of the best, which 
will commence to form heads about July 1st. The plants may 
also be blanched Jike Cardoons. This is accomplished by cutting 
fc-ack in July the stems close to the ground; the rapidly growing 
shoots which then start up 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 at least as often as once 
in three years. 
LARGE GLOBE, or PARIS SSSfRKlK 
nearly round: scales pale green, shading to violet at the base 
very thick and fleshy. This is the French Artichoke, the large 
flower buds of which are so highly esteemed by epicures, and is 
very different from the plant cultivated for its fleshy roots or 
tubers. Pkt. 6c; Oz. 40c; 2 Oz. 76c; h Lb. $1.26; Lb. $4.00 
ASPARAGUS, Columbian Mammoth White. 
Asparagus... 
Asparagus is one of the earliest spring vegetables, and would 
be in universal use were it not for the mistaken idea that it is diffl 
cult to grow. In reality it can be produced very easily and cheaply. 
It does best in a moist, sandy soil, but can be grown in any garden 
by following the directions given here. A bed 15x50 feet, requir 
ing about 100 plants, should give an abundant supply for an ordi 
nary family. 
Culture.— Beds are usually formed by setting plants one or 
two years old, which can be procured of us. If you wish to 
grow plants yourself, pour hot, but not boiling, water on the seed 
and let stand until cool; pour it off and repeat two or three times 
with fresh hot water. Then sow in drills one foot apart and two 
inches deep in light, rich soil. When the plants are well up, thin 
to about one inch apart, and give frequent and thorough cultiva 
tiou 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 plowing or spading and thoroughly enriching 
the ground with stable manure or other fertilizer, if the subsoil is 
not naturally loose and friable, it should be made so by thoroughly 
stirring with a subsoil plow or the spade. Set the plants about 
four inches deep and one to two feet apart in rows four to six feet 
apart. After the plants are well started give frequent and thor 
ougli cultivation. Early the next spring spade in a heavy dressing 
of manure, and one quart of salt to each square rod and cultivate 
well as long as the size of the plants will permit or until they begin 
to die down. The next season the bed may be cut over two or three 
times, but if this is done, all the shoots, no matter how small 
should be cut. After the final cutting, give a good dressing of 
maniffe, ashes and salt. Cultivate frequently until the plants 
meet in the rows. In autumn, after the tops are fully ripe and 
yellow, they should be cut and burned. If well cultivated and ma 
nured the bed should give a full crop the following season and 
continue productive for eight or ten years. 
CONOVER’S COLOSSAL 
quality. Pkt. 6c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 16c; h Lb. 20c; Lb. 60c. 
Strong roots 90 cents per 100, postpaid; large , two year old 
roots 50 cents per 100 by freight or express, not prepaid. 
* + + 
Columbian_. 
Mammoth White.. 
This most distinct and valuable Asparagus was introduced by 
us m 1893. The immense shoots are clear white, and in favorable 
weather remain so until three or four inches above the surface. 
The crown or bud of the young stalk is considerably smaller than 
the part just below it, thus further distinguishing the variety. All 
but a very few of the seedlings will produce clear white shoots, 
and the green ones can be readily distinguished and rejected when 
setting the permanent bed. 
Pkt. 6c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 16c; % Lb. 25c; Lb. 76c 
Strong roots $1.00 per 100 , postpaid; large, two year old roots 
60 cents per 100 by freight or express, not prepaid. 
