68 1). M. FERRY & CO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



difference in the different varieties of seed wheat to 

 warrant the paying of an extra price for a variety, even 

 if it was decidedly superior, and better suited to their 

 soils, but the Missouri Agricultural College, in a test of 

 thirty-eight varieties extending through three seasons, 

 found the average yield of all the sorts was twenty-nine 

 and three-fourths bushels, that of the poorest variety fur 

 the three years, twenty-two and one-fourth bushels, 

 while that of the highest was thirty-eight bushels. 

 Now, if a farmer could make a profit of five dollars per 

 acre, when wheat was eighty cents per bushel, in grow- 

 ing the average variety, he would realize a profit of nine 

 dollars per acre by purchasing and sowing the best sort, 

 even if he had to pay double the price for the seed, and 

 he would lose ninety cents per acre in growing the 

 poorest sort, even if the seed cost him nothing. We 

 could quote many similar experiments made at the 

 various Experimental Stations and by private growers, 

 showing the same thing, so we feel that we are doing 

 our customers a kindness in urging them carefully to 

 study and experiment with the new and superior seed 

 grains we offer. 



Michigan Bronze {Mediterranean Hybrid, or 

 Diehl Mediterranean). — We are gratified with our suc- 

 cess in introducing this wheat, and in the uniformly 

 favorable reports which come to us in regard to it. It 

 certainly seems to be the farmers' wheat, and we believe 

 it the most profitable sort in cultivation. It is a cross 

 between the old Diehl and the Red Mediterranean, and 

 the head is of the shape of the Diehl, but with short 

 beards, while the plant retains the hardiness and pro- 

 ductiveness of the Mediterranean, and the grain cannot 

 be equalled in milling qualities. The plants stool out 

 well. The straw is of moderate length and size, but 

 very stiff, and turns bronze at maturity; the berry is 

 bright amber color, medium sized and handsome. We 

 recommend this variety as the surest and best for 

 ordinary farms and conditions. 



Saskatchewan Fife Spring Wheat.— This seed 

 we offer is very pure and free from mixture, and we 

 think that this variety is not only the hardiest and 

 most productive, but that it is the best milling spring 

 wheat grown, and recommend it on account of its vigor 

 of growth, earliness, productiveness, and its purity. 



Barley, Common.— Barley succeeds best on lands 

 more sandy and lighter than those adapted to wheat. It 

 is sown in the spring, and can be grown farther north 

 than any other grain. Unless intended for seed, it 

 should be cut before fully ripe, as it is then heavier, of 

 better quality and less liable to shell. The land should 

 always be rolled immediately after sowing; or perhaps a 

 better method is to roll the ground when the plants are 

 one or two inches high. The quantity of seed sown per 

 acre is about two and a half bushels, sown broadcast. 

 The weight per bushel is forty-eight pounds, though it 

 is almost always sold by the one hundred pounds. The 

 product is from forty to sixty bushels per acre, accord- 

 ing to cultivation. 



Barley, Hulless. —There are several varieties of 

 Barley in which the grain shells out of the chaff like 

 Wheat. One variety is also beardless, but our expe- 

 rience with it is that it is a very unreliable cropper. 

 That we offer has a smaller grain, but yields about as 

 well as the Common Barley, and is the sort so largely 

 grown by Bohemians and others for making barley 

 bread. 



Rye, Fall or Winter. — The time for sowing is from 

 the middle of August to last of September. One plow- 

 ing is given, and the seed sown broadcast at the rate of 

 one and a half bushels per acre, and dragged in. Har- 

 rowing and rolling in the spring are recommended. If 



cut before fully ripe, the grain makes more and better 

 flour. If intended for seed, it should be fully ripe. 

 Sow some rye among standing corn, hoeing it in, 

 leaving the ground level as possible, and after the corn 

 is removed, rolling the ground. It succeeds best on 

 sandy soils. 



Rye, Spring.— Although this grain is often planted 

 by farmers especially for the paper makers, who prefer 

 it to any other, its principal value is as a "catch" crop, 

 to sow where winter grain has failed. The straw is 

 shorter and stiffer than that of the winter variety, and is 

 always easily secured, while the grain, although smaller, 

 is of equal value. 



Buckwheat, Common.— Buckwheat should be 

 sown about the 20th of June, broadcast, at the rate of 

 from one to three pecks per acre. The average yield 

 is from twenty-five to thirty bushels per acre. It 

 should be threshed as soon as dry, on the ground or 

 barn floor. If allowed to stand in mass, it quickly 

 gathers moisture. 



Buckwheat, Silver Hull. — This improved variety 

 is much better than the old sort. It is in bloom longer, 

 matures sooner, and yields double the quantity per acre. 

 The husk is thinner, the corners less prominent, and the 

 grain of a beautiful light gray color. The flour is said 

 to be better and more nutritious. 



Buckwheat, European Silver Hull. — This is a 

 recent introduction and seems to be a distinct improve- 

 ment on the common Silver Hull. Not quite so rank in 

 growth, but a sure cropper, and the berry although 

 shorter is very plump, and gives a large proportion of 

 flour of excellent quality. 



Field Peas {Pisum sativum).— The varieties of field 

 peas have never been very numerous, nor are they much 

 increasing. The kinds mostly used are the Golden 

 Vine, Blue Prussian, Common White and Common 

 Blue. Field Peas, in general, may be sown broadcast 

 or in drills, after the manner of field beans, about three 

 bushels per acre. 



Spring Vetches, or Tares {Vica sativa). — A species 

 of the pea, grown extensively in England, and to a con- 

 siderable extent in Canada, for stock, but not much 

 used in the States. Culture same as Field Peas, two 

 bushels per acre. 



Flax (JL.in.um usitatissimum). — Sow late enough in 

 the spring to avoid frost, and early enough to secure the 

 early rains. A fair average quantity of seed to be sown 

 on an acre is one-half bushel, when cultivated for seed; 

 if for the fibre, a larger quantity should be sown. Cut 

 before quite ripe, and, if the weather be dry, let it lie in 

 the swath a few hours, when it should be raked, bound 

 and secured from the weather; thrash early in the fall 

 and in dry weather. 



Hemp {Cannabis sativa). — If raised for manufac- 

 turing, must be sown broadcast, at the rate of one-half 

 bushel to the acre; if for seed, should be planted in hills 

 four feet apart, and the plants thinned out to three or 

 four most vigorous stems in each hill. 



♦ ■ 



BIRD SEEDS, 



Canary Seed (Phalaris canariensis). 

 Hemp Seed (Cannabis sativa) . 

 Maw (Papaver rhceas). 

 Millet Seed (Panicum miliaceiuu). 

 Rape Seed (Brassica napus). 

 Lettuce Seed (Lactuca sativa). 



