HALEB'S FRUIT 5 
for 19 03 
FIRST FRUITS” OF THE. GARDEN 
Asparagus 
A X early-bird money catcher. As a market crop for llie family garden, the earliest, 
cheapest and best food supply. A good crop for the lazy man, and a very ppofi- 
table one to the thrifty farmer. Once established, it is there ; pushes out of 
the ground in early spring, and just lifts the mortgage right Off the farm. 
It is an easy crop to grow; will thrive on any but very wet soil. For early market, 
warm, sandy soil, in a sheltered position, is best; but remember, you can have a 
family patch on almost any soil! Plow and fertilize as for any good farm crop ; after 
a thorougn harrowing, with a light plow open the furrows to the depth of 5 to 6 inches, $[2 
to 4 feet apart; in these plant the roots 15 to j8 inches apart, spreading them well, firming 
the earth well about them, and leaving the crowns some 2 inches below the level surface of 
the ground. In spring planting, if the crowns are only slightly covered and the rest of the 
furrow left open until the new growth is a few inches high, it will greatly assist in the first 
hoeing. The cultivator, being run close along the line of the row, will tumble earth into 
these partly open furrows, fill in about the plants, cover up all small weeds, and so obviate 
Uie necessity for any hand work. 
7 n planting the family Asparagus bed, the mi.stake is usually made of making it 
too small; get right out into the field with it, in a few long rows, setting not less 
than 500 plants, and 1,000 will do better. Not one farmer’s family in ten ever yet 
had all the Asparagus they could eat! Is your own family still among the 
unfortunate ? If so, note how little it will cost to make them happy. 
r A T ATT' Asparagus is now extensively grown by planters for 
X ± V-/. New York and Philadelphia markets, where it sells at top prices 
- on account of its great size and beautiful appearance, 
average bunches of 15 shoots measuring 13 to 14 inches in circumference. For some years 
this variety has reached the markets 10 days earlier than all other kinds, and has com¬ 
manded almost fabulous prices. It appears to be a variety of ver>’ great merit, the largest 
of any we have ever seen. Fine, strong roots, 50 cts. per 100, ^2.25 for 500, <4 per 1,000. 
Special rates in lots of 5,000 and over. 
CONOVER’S Colossal. 
The standard of excellence the 
country over. This growing green- 
-- ' tipi^ed variety is probably more 
widely planted than all others combined, ihoiujli in recent years it has been fast giving 
place to Palmetto and Giant Argenteuil, as big things are what is wanted nowadays. 50 cts. 
per 100, ^2.25 for 500, ?4 per i,ooo. 
Winter Forcing F^hubarb 
For years I have been sending out a selected strain of VICTORIA RHUBARB that 
makes heavy crowns. When well enriched this throws up from open ground, in very early 
spring, great quantities of very large stalks, which make a delicious, refreshing and health¬ 
ful article of food in early spring, when something of the kind is so much appreciated. Fine 
Rhubarb is also a money-making crop with many of recent years. A few have found great 
profits from buying roots in spring, growing them one summer in veiy rich soil, so as to 
establish a lot of crowns on each plant, and in the fall packing these roots solidly together 
in a cool, dark cellar, with rich earth between them ; in March and early April, six weeks 
before rhubarb can be had from the open ground, beautifully pink, tender stalks two or 
more feet high can be cut and marketed at fancy prices. In this way many an old unused 
cellar, or a portion of any house cellar, can be made to give a fine cash income with little or 
no trouble or expense. Wlien marketing season is over, divide the roots and plant in open 
ground to build up crowns for next winter’s fruitage. There is money in cellar-grown 
Rhubarb. Superb Victoria roots, $i per doz., 5:5 per 100, ^^30 per 1,000. 
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