D. M. FERRY <£ CO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 67 



ately moist land, for which it is peculiarly adapted. 

 Large quantities are raised in England, and nearly all of 

 Europe. It is also largely used for lawns, in conjunc- 

 tion with other grasses. One and a half to two bushels 

 per acre, in the spring. Twenty pounds per bushel. 



Meadow Fescue, or English Blue Grass [Festuca 

 />ratensis). — A perennial grass from two to four feet 

 high, with flat, broad leaves. This is one of the stand- 

 ard European grasses, and cattle are very fond of it, 

 both green and dry. It needs rich ground, and it suc- 

 ceeds well on prairie soil, and is an excellent pasture 

 grass to take the place of the wild grasses, as it yields a 

 large amount of early and late feed. It also makes ex- 

 cellent hay, and is certainly worthy of more general 

 cultivation. 



Wood Meadow Grass (Poa nemoralis). — Grows 

 from one and a half to two feet high; has a perennial 

 creeping root, and an erect, slender, smooth stem. Its 

 chief value is in that it will produce a good crop of hay 

 in moist, shady situations, where it frequently grows 

 quite tall. Cattle are fond of it; it is succulent and nu- 

 tritious, and is, perhaps, the best variety for sowing in 

 orchards, under trees, and shaded situations, either for 

 hay or pasturage, and for parks and pleasure grounds. 

 About fourteen pounds per bushel. Two bushels per 

 acre. 



Sweet Vernal Grass (Anthoxanthum odoratmn). 

 — One of the earliest of grasses in spring, as well as the 

 latest in autumn, and about the only grass that is fra- 

 grant. As a pasture grass, mixed w r ith other species, it 

 is valuable on account of its earliness, and mixed with 

 blue grass and white clover, it is an invaluable adjunct 

 for lawns, presenting a beautiful appearance, and exhal- 

 ing a delightful fragrance when in blossom. Should 

 form a part of the mixed grasses in every lawn and door- 

 yard. About ten pounds per bushel. 



Common Millet (Panicum miliaceutn). — Requires 

 a dry, light, rich soil, and grows two and a half to four 

 feet high, with a fine bulk of stalks and leaves, and is 

 excellent for forage. For hay, sow broadcast, one-half 

 bushel per acre, from May ist to August ist. For 

 grain, sow in drills, one peck to the acre, and not later 

 than June 20th. Fifty pounds per bushel. 



German, or Golden Millet. — An improved variety, 

 medium early, growing three to five feet high. The 

 heads are closely condensed, though the spikes are very 

 numerous. The seeds are contained in rough, bristly 

 sheaths, and are round, golden yellow, and beautiful in 

 appearance. 



From close observation during the past few years, the 

 fact has been established beyond doubt, that seed of the 

 German, or Golden Millet, grown in southern latitudes 

 will produce a much larger yield of hay than from seed 

 grown in northern or western sections of the country, 

 and for that reason is far better for farmers to sow. We 

 have a good stock of southern grown seed, and, know- 

 ing its value, confidently recommend it. Bear in mind 

 that to the farmer, southern grown seed is worth double 

 that of northern or western grown. Northern and 

 western grown seed is degenerated and hybridized with 

 other millets. 



Johnson Grass (Sorghum halapense). — This is one 

 of the most valuable forage plants of recent introduction, 

 and is already very popular in the Southern States.. It 

 is perennial, a rapid grower, very nutritious, being 

 eagerly devoured by all kinds of stock ; comes early in 

 the spring, grows until the frosts cut it down in the fall, 

 stands the drought belter than any grass, having long, 

 cane like roots which penetrate the soil for moisture ; 

 superior both as a grazing and hay grass; has abundance 

 of roots which decay, thereby enriching the ground 



rather than exhausting it, as Timothy does; belonging 

 to the Sorghum family, it contains much saccharine 

 matter, which is an important factor in the food of 

 stock. It will grow on any land where corn will grow. 

 On lands that will produce a bale of cotton to the acre, 

 four to six tons of hay can be cut per annum, cutting 

 three and four times. Heavy fertilizing would produce 

 greater results. The best results follow sowing the seed 

 in August and September, enabling the seed to get a 

 good root by fall, and forming a better turf the following 

 season. Sow with clean seed, broadcast, at the rate of one 

 bushel per acre, and cover with a light brush, or sow 

 just before a heavy rain. Three good crops the follow- 

 ing season will be the result if the season is favorable. 

 Sowing in the spring does well, but the crop would not 

 be as heavy the first year. The seed we offer is of this 

 season's crop, and has been well recleaned. One bushel 

 will sow an acre. 



Hungarian Grass (Panicum Germanicunt). — This 

 is a species of millet, growing less rank, with smaller 

 stalks, often yielding two or three tons of hay per acre. 

 It is very popular and valuable with those who are clear- 

 ing timber lands. Like the millet, it is an annual, and 

 requires to be sown every season, but will produce a 

 larger return than almost any other crop. Sow and culti- 

 vate like millet. Forty-eight pounds per bushel. 



Extra Fine Mixed Lawn Grass (Central Park 

 Mixture). — The essentials for a fine lawn are proper 

 drainage, a careful preparation of the soil, which should 

 be made as fine and light on the surface as possible, 

 thorough rolling, and a selection of the seeds of such 

 grasses as will present a luxuriant verdure from early 

 spring till late in autumn; and then, frequent mowings 

 with a lawn mower. However much care is bestowed 

 on the soil and seed, no lawn will be beautiful without 

 frequent mowing and rolling. Too much care cannot 

 be bestowed upon the selection of grasses, as some vari- 

 eties are the most luxuriant in spring, others in summer, 

 others again in autumn, and a combination of the proper 

 sorts is required for a perfect, carpet like lawn. We 

 have given much thought and made many experiments 

 to secure the best mixture, and think our Central Park 

 Mixture is the best possible mixture for permanent lawns, 

 resisting the severe droughts of our climate better than 

 any other. It may be planted early in spring, or fall, 

 and should be sown at the rate of from sixty to eighty 

 pounds to the acre, much more being required than for 

 hay or pasturage. If sown in the spring, sow as early 

 as possible, making the surface very fine and smooth, 

 then raking it over and sowing the seed just before a 

 rain, which, if the surface has just been raked, will cover 

 the seed sufficiently. If the expected rain does not 

 come, cover by rolling with a light roller. If sown in 

 the fall, sow before the autumn rains have ceased, and 

 before very cold weather give the young grass a light 

 dressing of manure. One pound of this mixture is suf- 

 ficient to sow a space 30 x 20 feet, or 600 square feet. 

 Kentucky Blue Grass in conjunction with White Clover 

 forms one of the finest and closest of lawns For this 

 purpose, use four bushels of Blue Grass, and about six 

 pounds of White Clover per acre. 



* 



MISCELLANEOUS F^R7VY 

 SEEDS, 



MICHIGAN WINTER WHEAT. 



One of the ways in which farmers allow the profits, 

 which should come from their business, to slip through 

 their fingers is in want of attention to the quality of their 

 seed grain. Most farmers think that there is not enough 



