D. M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH. 
13 
ILLUSTRATED AND DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 
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VEGETABLE SEEDS 
WITH GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR CULTIVATION 
ARTICHOKE 
The seed we offer is that of the true artichoke which is a very popular vegetable in Europe. In it the edible portion is the 
thickened scales at the base of the flower heads or buds. The plant is very different, from what is known in America as Artichoke 
or Jerusalem Artichoke, in which the edible portion is the tuber. 
In February or March sow and transplant in hotbeds 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 produce heads the first year. 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 like 
Cardoons. This is done by cutting back the stems close to the 
ground in July, 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 as often as once in three years. 
v /-'I t i _ r> The best sort for general use. 
JLarge Lilobe, or r axis Plant vigorous and hardy, leaves 
silver gray, ribs reddish at the base and without spines. Buds 
large, nearly round; scales pale green, shading to violet at the 
base. No other variety has such a broad, thick and fleshy recep¬ 
tacle or bottom. Height of stem about two and one-half feet. 
Pkt. 5c; Oz. 60c; 2 Oz. $1.00; Va Lb. $1.75; Lb. $6.00 
ASPARAGUS 
g 
One of the earliest and most delicious of spring vegetables. We 
strongly urge all those having enough available space to put in a 
bed for their own use, following carefully the cultural directions 
~iven below. Beds are usually formed by setting roots which can 
e procured of us. If you wish to grow plants from the seed 
yourself, pour warm water on the seed and allow it to stand until 
cool; pour it off and repeat two or three times with fresh warm 
water. Sow in spring in drills about eighteen inches apart and two 
inches deep in light, rich soil, planting fifteen to twenty seeds to 
each foot of row. When the plants are well up, thin to about one 
inch apart 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 permanent beds should be prepared by deep 
plowing or spading and thoroughly enriching the ground with 
stable manure or other fertilizer; a moist, sandy soil is oest. If the 
subsoil is not naturally loose and friable, it should be made so by 
thoroughly stirring with a subsoil plow or 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 
thorough cultivation. Early the next spring spade in a heavy dress¬ 
ing of manure and about one quart of salt and double the quantity 
of fresh wood ashes to each square rod and cultivate well as long as 
the size of 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 manure, 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. A bed fifteen by fifty feet, requiring about one hundred 
plants, if well cultivated and manured, should give the following 
season an abundant supply for an ordinary family and continue 
productive for eight or ten years. 
v> 1 .. A very early maturing and prolific variety, produc- 
raimettO ing an abundance of very large, deep green shoots 
of the best quality. SEED—Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 15c; Va Lb. 20c; 
Lb. 65c. ROOTS —Postpaid, $1.35 per 100; by freight or express, 
not prepaid, 85c per 100; $5.50 per 1000 
y C* I t This sort is one of the largest and most 
Lonover S v^olossal extensively used green varieties. 
Shoots bright green, sometimes tinged with purple at the top, 
very tender and of the best quality. SEED—Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 
2 Oz. 15c; Va Lb. 20c; Lb. 60c. ROOTS—Postpaid, $1.30 per 100; 
by freight or express, not prepaid, 80c per 100; $5.50 per 1000 
Introduced by us in 
1893. Furnishes shoots 
Columbian Mammoth White 
of exce 
ptionally 
tear whft< 
Palmetto 
large size and of superior tenderness and flavor, 
i until four to six inches above the surface. A 
large proportion of the seeds will produce white shoots and the 
green ones can be easily rejected when setting out the permanent 
bed. SEED—Pkt. 5c; Oz. 10c; 2 Oz. 15c; Va Lb. 25c; Lb. 75c. 
ROOTS—Postpaid, $1.35 per 100; by freight or express, not pre¬ 
paid, 85c per 100; $6.00 per 1000 
