D. M. Ferry 6l Cos Descriptive Catalogue. 
13 
Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue 
— GA of V 9 — 
Vegetable Seeds. 
—with vd— 
General Directions for GuliTiyation. 
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. 
French, Artichaut. —German, Artischoke. 
Culture. —Sow in seed beds early in spring, in drills 
twelve inches 
apart. The pcr- 
manent beds 
should be spaded 
deep, and well 
dressed with rot¬ 
ten manure,ashes 
and a little salt. 
When the plants 
are six inches 
high, transplant, 
setting them 
about two feet 
apart. The edi¬ 
ble portion is the 
undeveloped 
Large Globe. flower heads, 
which should be used before they begin to open, and 
then the stalk cut to the ground, for if the flowers ex¬ 
pand they weaken the plants. In the fall, cover with 
manure, which should be spaded in the following spring, 
taking care not to injure the plants. The crop is the 
largest and best the second year, after which the bed 
should be renewed by seed or suckers. 
Large Globe,— The best sort for general use. Buds 
large, nearly round ; scales deep green, shading to pur¬ 
ple, 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 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. 
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 
ARTICHOKE. 
thorough cultivation during the summer ; and if this 
has been well done, the plants will be fit to set the next 
spring. The permanent bed should be prepared by dee;, 
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. 
Set the plants about one foot apart in this trench, and 
coyer with about two inches of fine soil. After the 
plants arc well up gradually fill up the trenches, and 
give frequent and thorough cultivation. Early the next 
spring spade in a heavy dressing of manure, and two 
quarts of salt to each square rod, and cultivate well until 
the plants begin to die down. The next season it may 
be cut for the table two or three times, taking care to 
cut all the shoots, large and small, as soon as they ap¬ 
pear. After the final cutting, give a good dressing of 
manure and salt. The next season, and ever after that, 
the bed should give a full crop and be annually dressed 
with manure and salt after the last cutting, and weh 
cultivated until the plants occupy the whole space. In 
the fall the tops should be cut and 
burned, but not until they are dead 
ripe. 
Conover’s Colossal.— A mam¬ 
moth 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. 
Giant. — An old and popular vari¬ 
ety,producing green or purple shoots 
according to the soil it is grown in. 
Very hardy, but not so large, or the 
plants as compact as the last. 
BEANS. 
Dwarf, Bush, or Snap. 
Fr. Haricot. — Ger. Rohnc. 
Under this name are classed all the 
low growing sorts, called in different 
catalogues Rush , Bunchy Snap , 
String or Dwarf Rea ns. 
Culture. — It is a great mistake to 
suppose, as many do, that Beans do 
best on light, poor land. No crop 
responds more readily to good soil 
D. M. F. & Co’s 
Golden Wax. 
