D. 31. FERRY & CO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 63 



taste. The leaves are used as a tonic and vermifuge, 

 and also for fresh bruises. Is raised from seed, and 

 propagated by cuttings, or dividing the roots. A dry, 

 poor soil is best adapted to bring out the peculiar virtues 

 of this plant. 



♦ 



Fruit Tree Seeds. 



Apple. — Apple seeds do not produce the same vari- 

 eties, but generally give a hardy, though inferior sort, 

 and upon these seedlings are grafted or budded the finer 

 varieties. The seeds may be planted in the fall, in rows 

 two feet apart, or they may be planted in early spring, 

 but in that case the seed must first be mixed with damp 

 sand and frozen, after which care must be taken that 

 they do not become dry before planting. As soon as 

 the plants are up, they should be well cultivated, and 

 every effort made to secure a vigorous growth the first 

 season. As soon as the plants are large enough they 

 may be budded in the summer or grafted in the spring. 



Cherry, mazzard. — This is the stock used for stand- 

 ard trees. Success is much more certain if the seed is 

 planted in the fall, as it is very difficult to keep it in 

 good condition through winter. The general culture 

 should be the same as for the apple, except that bud- 

 ding should be employed instead of grafting. 



Cherry, mahaleb. — Used as stocks when dwarf trees 

 are wanted. Culture same as the above. 



Pear. — Success will depend very largely upon having 

 a deep, rich, moist soil, as this is essential to vigorous 

 growth. Plant and cultivate like the apple, and bud 

 when large enough. Every effort should be made to 

 secure a rapid and vigorous growth from the first. 



Peach. — Plant three inches deep in nursery rows 

 three feet apart, in the fall, or if delayed until spring, 

 crack the pits and plant the kernels only. They should 

 be large enough to bud the first season, and may be 

 profitably set in orchards two years from planting. 



Plum. — The directions given for planting apples will 

 also apply to plums, except the pits should be planted 

 further apart in the row. The varieties raised from 

 seed will be hardy, vigorous stocks upon which to graft 

 the choicer sorts. 



Quince. — Quinces generally produce the same vari- 

 ety from seed, but occasionally vary. The general cul- 

 ture and requirements of soil are the same as for the 

 pear, except that they are not budded. 



♦ 



Forest Tree tsnd 

 Hedge Seeds. 



Few investments made by our farmers will return a 

 larger profit in the course of a few years than the plant- 

 ing of land now uncultivated, or cultivated at a loss, 

 to forest trees. The time is coming, not only surely, but 

 rapidly, when a few acres covered with our best forest 

 trees will be of great value. Forests are needed, not only 

 for supplying us with timber, but for protection against 

 winds and hurricanes. Grain fields and orchards are 

 destroyed or parched by dry winds which were never 

 known before the protecting forests were destroyed. 

 The terrible cyclones so frequent in our Western States, 

 and the beds of little streams in the East now long dried 

 up, should admonish all who have a thought beyond the 

 present, to the planting of forest trees. 



EVERGREEN TREE SEEDS. 



The seeds of evergreen trees should be kept till time 

 of sowing in a dry, cool place. As early in spring as 

 the ground can be worked, the seeds should be sown 

 thinly in beds of fine, sandy loam, raised about four 



inches above the general surface. The seeds can be 

 raked in, or if very small, they may lie upon the surface 

 and then be rolled in or patted with the back of the 

 spade to firm the earth around the seeds. Then water 

 very sparingly, and with a fine spray. The young plants 

 are very apt to damp off, and need to be shaded from 

 the hot sun and drying winds. A good shade can be 

 made of laths nailed two inches apart to a light frame. 

 This should be supported about eight inches above the 

 seed bed in such a way as to be easily removed to allow 

 cultivation and weeding. Do not allow the young plants 

 to become choked by weeds, and let them remain one or 

 two years before transplanting to permanent ground. 



American Arbor Vitae ( Thuja occidentalis).-Grovis 

 to a small size, seldom over thirty feet high. Grows 

 well under cultivation, and is one of the best for a hedge 

 as a screen and wind break. If planted in exposed 

 places, along the country roads, would prove effectual 

 in preventing snow drifts. Its wood, which has an 

 agreeable odor and is easily split, is very durable. It is 

 best grown from seeds, which should be sown and the 

 seedlings transplanted, as directed above. They should 

 be carefully watered when transplanted, and if a dry 

 summer ensues, watering should be continued until the 

 plants are well rooted. 



Silver Fir (Abies pectinata). — An important timber 

 tree, and grows to a large size. While the timber is 

 softer and less durable than pine, it is not liable to warp 

 or shrink, and is valuable for shingles, cabinet work, boat 

 building, etc. When young, the trees are tender and 

 easily injured by frost, but as it grows larger, it is 

 entirely hardy. 



Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis). — One of the most 

 beautiful of our native evergreen trees. Of graceful 

 habit, with light, elegant and delicate foliage. The 

 timber is well known; coarse but strong. It is valuable 

 for planks, bridge building, roof boards, etc., as it 

 endures exposure to the weather for a long period. The 

 bark is used to an immense extent for tanning leather. 

 It requires a light, dry soil; and should never be planted 

 on a stiff clay, which will make the tree tender, and lia- 

 ble to winter kill, though it is entirely hardy hundreds 

 of miles north of our latitude. Planted singly or among 

 deciduous trees, it is one of the most desirable varieties 

 for ornamental planting. 



Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris). — Very hardy, and 

 growing surely and rapidly on nearly every variety of 

 soil, forming a beautiful tree, and invaluable as a wind 

 break. Prof. C. S. Sargent says: "It is the most valu- 

 able tree farmers can plant for screens and wind breaks 

 about their fields and buildings." 



White or Weymouth Pine (Pinus Strobus).— The 

 most majestic and valuable of all our native pines, and 

 has furnished immense quantities of the white pine 

 lumber so well known throughout the country. It thrives 

 best in a light sand with clay subsoil, and prefers plains 

 and broad river valleys to higher lands. Except on 

 high limestone soils, it should be planted largely where 

 pine lumber is wanted. 



Norway Spruce (Abies excelsd). — Well known as 

 one of our most beautiful evergreen trees. It is hardy, of 

 rapid growth, and forms a dense, close screen, or hedge. 

 About 20,000 seeds to the pound. 



DECIDUOUS TREE SEEDS. 



With the seeds of deciduous trees, only a little care is 

 required in sowing at the proper season to insure suc- 

 cess. Those with hard shells like the locusts should be 

 planted in the fall or placed in boxes with sand and ex- 

 posed to frost before planting, otherwise they may lie in 

 the ground from one to three years without sprouting. 

 If too .late in spring to expose them to the action of 



