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GENERAL LIST OF
VEGETABLE SEEDS
For Market Gardeners^ Truckers and Amateurs
The Best That Scientific Methods Can Produce
1923
SEEDS POSTPAID to Any Post Office in the United States, Except Where Otherwise Noted. \
Asparagus.
ASPARAGUS
Asparagus may be grown in almost any soil, and under nearly all
conditions, but succeeds best in a rich, sandy, friable loam with
good under drainage, and yet not too dry. Avoid planting near trees
or tall shrubs, because of the shade and heavy draft on the fertility
of the ground. Choose an open space v/ith a southern exposure.
Put the soil into the best possible condition before planting by
working in a liberal quantity of well rotted manure, or commercial
fertilizer will do where barn-yard manure is not available. For
family gardens dig a trench 18 inches wide for each row, placing a
few inches of manure in the bottom, covering it with two or three
inches of soil to prevent the roots coming in contact with the manure
before active growth has begun. Set the plants from 15 to 18 inches
apart in the rows, and 36 inches bet'ween the rows. In field culture
it is best to set the plants three to four feet apart. In planting, the
roots should be spread by dividing them in the middle, setting them
over little hills of soil placed in the bottom of the trench, thus
raising the crown a few inches above the extremities of the roots,
and at once cover with three or four inches of soil for green, and
eight to ten inches for white Asparagus, taking care to press the
soil firmly about the roots. The plants may be, set either in spring
or late in fall. We advise planting in this latitude as early in the
spring as the ground can be worked. The Asparagus plant is slow
to die down in the fall, so the roots cannot safely be dug until about
November 1st. By this time the soil is so cool that the plants do
not root readily, consequently many are winter killed.
Frequent cultivation Is required to keep down weeds and to pro-
vide a mulch of loose earth for the retention of moisture, care
being taken not to injure the young sprouts in the operation.
Cutting should not begin until the plants are strong and vigor-
ous, which is generally two or three years after planting, and
should be discontinued after the first of July. Later cropping is
done at the expense of weakening the roots. The plants should be
allowed to fully mature before cutting off early in winter, and a top
dressing of three or four inches of barn-yard manure applied.
Asparagus being a gross feeder, naturally requires heavy fertilizing,
and an application of commercial fertilizer early in spring will be
beneficial.
Asparagus may be found suffering from blight, a condition fre-
quently brought on by prolonging the cropping season, thereby
weakening the roots, or it may be due to a want of fertility. So as
to prevent it, apply a liberal quantity of manure every year, and
above all avoid extending the cutting period too long. Should blight
appear, however, spray the plants freely with Bordeaux Mixture,
and destroy the affected parts.
Barr's Mammotb — A large green sort. Pkt., 5c; oz., 15c; % lb.. .S5c:
1 lb., $1.00.
Colossal — An excellent variety. Pkt., 5c; oz., 10c; % lb., 25c; 1 lb., 75o.
Columbian Mammoth 'White — A large white variety. Pkt., 5c; or...
15c; % lb., 35c; 1 lb., $1.00.
Giant Arscnteuil — A popular main crop sort, grows to a large size.
Pkt., 5c; oz., 15c; % lb., 35c; 1 lb., $1.00.
Palmetto — An early green sort. Pkt., 5c; oz., 10c; % lb., 25c; 1 lb., 75c.
Bonavellet's Giant — Mammoth purplish-green. Pkt., 5c; oz., 15e;
1/4 lb., 3.5c; 1 lb., $1.00.
Asparagus seed should be sown as early as possible in
spring, scattering the seed an inch apart in drills, covering
with %-inch of soil. After the plants are well up, thin to
stand 2 inches apart. Keep the ground well cultivated and
the plants will be ready to set out in permanent beds the
following spring. One ounce of seed for 300 plants.
ASPARAGUS ROOTS
Columbia Mammotli Bonavallets Giant
Barr's Mammoth Giant Argenteuil
Strong two-year-old roots of any of the
Colos.snl
Palmetto
above named
Asparagus. Per doz., 30c; per 100, $1.75; per lOOO, $12.00.