48 



D. M. FERRY & GO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



inch deep and firming the soil well over the seed. Cultivate 

 -well during the summer, keeping them free from weeds. In 

 the fall or following spring the seedlings can be transplanted. 

 About 16,090 seeds per pound. 



£UROPEAN LARCH {Larix Europoea). —Grov,-s to a large 

 size and maizes excellent timber. The seed should be sown 

 in a half shady situation. 



EUROPEAN LINDEN (Tilia Eur opcea).— Wood very white, 

 light, not liable to crack, and much prized for cabinet work, 

 and the panels of carriages. It should be planted by all bee 

 keepers, as no flower of its size yields better honey or in 

 greater abundance. 



HONEY LOCUST (Gleditschia triacanthos).— On account 

 •of its rapidity of growth and durability of the timber, we 

 regard this as one of the most valuable of our native trees. 

 It is not so liable to injury by the borer as the common 

 Locust, and does not sprout from the root to a greater extent 

 than do most of our forest trees. The seed should be 

 treated with hot water, otherwise it may lie in the ground 

 from one to three years without sprouting. Take up and heel 

 in or cover the plants in the fall, and set out the next spring. 

 After the first season they are perfectly hardy. About 2,800 

 seeds per pound. 



YELLOW LOCUST (Robinia i^seudo-acacia).— This tree 

 grows so rapidly that railroad ties may be cut from it ten 

 years from the planting of the seed, while the durability of 

 its timber is well known ; fence posts of it having stood for 

 sixty years. Culture same as the above. One ounce contains 

 .about 1,300 seeds. 



WHITE nULBERRY (Morus aZfea).— Desirable for feeding 

 silkworms. Grows readily and rapidly from seed, which 



should not be covered too deep, as it is quite small. It 

 delights in a warm dry soil, and will succeed in almost any 

 place that will produce a good corn crop. 



RUSSIAN MULBERRY.— Of rapid growth, resembling the 

 apple tree in habit, with a grayish bark and drooping 

 branches. It is very easily cultivated and kept in dwarf form ; 

 makes a fine hedge and wind break. It bears vei'y young, 

 and the fruit is similar to the blackberry, varying in flavor 

 from sub-acid to sweet. In cold regions especially, this should 

 prove a very valuable variety for its timber, shade and fruit. 

 About 20,000 seeds per ounce. 



OSAGE ORANGE {Madura aurantiaca). — Culture. — The 

 ground should be thoroughly pulverized before the seed is 

 planted. The surest way is to sprout the seed before plant- 

 ing, putting into a vessel and covering with warm (not hot) 

 water. Keep in a warm place, and change the water once a 

 day. Let the seed soak about five or six daj^s, then pour off 

 the water and cover the vessel with a cloth. Keep in a warm 

 room and stir the seed occasionally. In a few days more the 

 seed will begin to sprout, and be ready for planting. A pound 

 of seed, if properly managed, will produce about 5,000 plants. 

 Sow in April or May, with twelve seeds to the foot, in drills 

 twenty inches apart, keeping free from weeds until three to 

 five inches high. . Set out in permanent hedges the following 

 spring, in rows, placing them six inches apart in the row, 

 but should be cut back within an inch of the ground before 

 they are set out: to make a thick hedge it will be necessary 

 the first three years, to cut back, leaving about eight inches 

 of each season's growth. This system must be pursued 

 every season until the hedge is of the desired height and 

 form. 



Froit Tree Seeds. 



APPLE.— Apple seeds do not produce the same varieties, 

 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 Avhich 

 care must be taken that they do not become dry before plant- 

 ing. As soon as the plants are up, they should be well culti- 

 vated, and every effort made to secure a vigorous growth the 

 ilrst season. As soon as the plants are large enough they 

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

 1,300 seeds per ounce. 



CHERRY, riAZZARD.— This is the stock used for standard 

 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 budding should be employed 

 instead of grafting. About 350 seeds per ounce. 



CHERRY, MAHALEB.— Used as stocks when dwarf trees 

 .are wanted. Culture same as the above. 



PEAR. — Success will depend very largelj- upon having a 

 dee}} rich, moist soil, as this is essentia' 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. About 1,200 seeds per 

 ounce. 



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 stalks upon which to graft the choicer sorts. 



QUINCE.— Quinces generally produce the same variety 

 from seed, but occasionally vary. The general culture and 

 requirements of soil are the same as for the pear, except that 

 they are not budded. About 1,100 seeds per ounce. 



Clouer Seeds. 



MAMMOTH, OR LARGE RED (Trifolium pratense^.— 

 Grows nearly twice the size of the common Red Clover, often 

 making a stand when the other clovers fail. Sow about eight 

 pounds per acre. Sixty pounds per bushel. 



riEDIUM RED, OR JUNE (Trifolium pratense).— This is 

 by far the most important of all the varieties for practical 

 purposes. Sow in spring or fall; and if no other grasses are 

 used, at the rate of eight to ten pounds per acre ; more is 



required on old stiff 

 soils than on new and 

 lighter ones. Sixty 

 pounds per bushel. 



CRIMSON TREFOIL, 

 OR SCARLET ITAL= 



IAN (Trifolium incar- 

 natxuii). — An annual 

 variety, in common 

 use in the South for 

 feeding green and 'for 

 hay. and also found 

 very profitable on the 

 sandy soils of New 

 Jersey. The yield in 

 fodder is immense, and 

 after cutting, it at once 

 commences growing 

 again, continuing until 

 severe, cold, freezing 

 weather. It grows 

 about one foot high; 

 the roots are nearly 

 black : leaves long. 

 Crimson Trefoil, or Scarlet blossoms long, pointed 



Italian. and of a very deep red, 



or carmine color. Makes good hay. It is sown in August or 

 September in the South, but should not be planted in the 

 North until spring. 



ALSIKE, OR SWEDISH (Trifoliuvi hyhridum). — The 

 most hardy of all clovers; perennial. On rich, moist soils it 

 yields an enormous quantity of hay or pasturage, but its 

 greatest value is for sowing with other clovers and grasses, 

 as it forms a thick bottom and greatly increases the yield of 

 hay; cattle prefer it to any other forage. The heads arr 

 globular, fragrant and much liked bj' bees, which obtain £ 

 large amount of honey from them. Sow in spring or fall, at 

 the rate of six pounds per acre, when used alone. Sixty 

 pounds per bushel. 



WHITE DUTCH (Trifolium repens').—K small, creeping, 

 perennial variety, valuable for pasturage and for lawns. It 

 accomodates itself to a variety of soils, but prefers moist 

 ground. Sow in spring, at the rate of six pounds per acre; 

 or when used with other grasses, half that amount. 



LUCERNE, OR ALFALFA (Medicogo sntiva').— It is use- 

 less to sow this clover on land having a stiff clay or hard pan 

 sub-soil, as the roots naturally penetrate to a great depth, 

 and must do so if the plants live any time. Sow on rich, 

 moist loam or sandy soil having a deep porous subsoil. Pre- 

 pare the land thoroughly and sow seed at the rate of twenty 

 to twenty -five pounds per acre, with a broadcaster or grass 

 seeder. Cover with a brush or light harrow. The young 

 plants are quite tender and the land must be free of weeds 

 until they become established. 



BOKHARA (Melilotus alba) Sweet Clover.— This is exceed- 

 ingly valuable as pasturage for bees. It is occasionally found 

 growing wild by the roadside in company with the more com- 

 mon sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), and may be dis- 

 tinguished from it by its white flowers and less coarse and 

 more leafy stems. 



