D. M. FERRY & CO’S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
13 
ILLUSTRATED AND DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 
i 
- OF- 
VEGETABLE® SEEDS 
CUith General Directions for Cultivation. 
As usual we have endeavored to cultivate only the best varieties, and to present their claims faithfully with 
accurate descriptions. 
The Terms and Prices of Vegetable Seeds will be found in the Price List, in the back part of this Catalogue. 
HRUCHOKE. 
French, Artichatit. German, Artischoke. 
Culture. — Sow in hot beds and transplant into pots, 
or so as to give plenty of room until danger of frost is 
Artichoke. 
over, and then set in very rich ground, four feet apart; 
or the plants can be raised in seed beds out of doors, but 
in that case will not be likely to produce heads the first 
year. The edible portion is the undeveloped flower 
heads, which will be produced about September first, 
and until frost. Late in the fall cut off the old tops and 
protect the crowns with leaves enough to prevent severe 
freezing, and cover so as to prevent their blowing off. 
The second year they will commence to form heads 
about July first. The plants may also be blanched like 
Cardoons, which is accomplished by cutting the plants 
in July, tying up and blanching the rapidly growing 
shoots like celery. 
Large Globe. —The best sort for general use. Buds 
large, nearly round; scales deep green, shading to pur¬ 
ple, very thick and fleshy. 
HSPHRHGUS. 
French, Asf>erge. German, Spargel. 
Asparagus is one of the earliest spring vegetables, 
and would be in universal use were it not for the preva¬ 
lent 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 12 x 40 feet, requiring 75 to 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; but if you wish to grow them yourself, prepare 
a light, rich spot as early as possible in the spring, 
and after soaking the seed twenty-four hours in 
warm water, sow in drills one foot apart. When the 
plants are well up, thin to two or three inches in the 
row, and give frequent and thorough cultivation 
during the summer. If this has been well done, the 
plants will be fit to set the next spring. The per¬ 
manent beds should be prepared by deep spading, 
working in a large quantity of rotted manure — the 
more the better. Dig trenches four feet apart and 
twelve to eighteen inches deep, and spade in at least 
four 'inches of well rotted manure in the bottom, 
cover with six or eight inches of rich soil, and set 
the plants about two feet apart in this trench and 
cover with about two inches of fine soil. After the 
plants are well started, give frequent and thorough 
cultivation, and draw a little earth into the trenches at 
each hoeing until they arc 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 two 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 dressing 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 cultivated until the plants occupy 
the whole space. In the fall, as soon as the tops are 
ripe and yellow, they should be cut and burned. The 
plants may also be set in the fall, if the ground is so 
I well drained that water will not stand in the trenches. 
