D. M. Ferry &, Cos Descriptive Catalogue. 



39 



v*''/^ m 



! 



Rhubarb. 



never allowed to exhaust itself by running to seed. Our 

 seed is saved from selected plants of Linnaeus, Giant and 

 other improved sorts. Like the seeds of fruit trees, 



seed cannot be relied upon to reproduce the same variety. 



riceTwu^o. 



Zizania aquatica. 

 An annual which sows itself in the fall, about middle 

 of September, lies dormant all winter, in spring com- 

 mences to sprout as soon as the water gets warm, reach- 

 ing the surface during the first half of June. It grows 

 very rapidly, in one to eight feet of water, ripens late in 

 August or early in September. It should be planted in 

 the fall, before ice forms, broadcast, from a boat, in two 

 or three feet of water, having a mud bottom. It has 

 been successfully planted through the ice in winter and 

 in the spring, but it succeeds best when planted in the 

 fall. As an attraction for wild fowl, it cannot be equaled. 

 In large ponds and lakes it purifies the water, affords a 

 refuge for the small ivy from the large fish, as well as 

 furnishing the small frj^ plenty of food from the animal- 

 culse upon its stalks ; for planting in fish ponds it is es- 

 pecially desirable. It also does well along the shores of 

 marshes, and makes a good hay. At the south, two 

 crops can be cut, and all cattle are very fond of it. 



ROQtlETTB. 



An annual plant, of which the leaves are used as a 

 salad. 



Sow thinly in drills a foot apart as soon as spring 

 opens. Watering often, when necessary, diminishes 

 the tart taste of the leaves. This is objectionable only 

 as the leaves become old ; they should be used while 

 young. 



Salsify, or Vegfetable Oyster. 



Fr. Sals{fis.~(jtx. Hafer-unirzel. 



The long, white, tapering root of Salsify resembles a 

 small parsnip, and when cooked, is a good substitute for 

 oysters, having a very similar flavor. 



CuLTUKE.— It succeeds best in a light, well enriched 

 soil, which should be stirred to the depth of twelve or 

 fourteen inches. If it is necessary to use manure, it 

 should be very fine and well rotted, for if it is fresh and 

 coarse, the roots will grow irregular and ill shaped. 



Sow early and quite deep,and give 

 the general culture recommended 

 for the parsnip. The roots are per- 

 fectly hardy, and may remain out 

 all winter, but should be du. 

 early in the spring, as they d 

 teriorate rapidly after grow 

 commences. Store a quantity f- 

 winter use in sand, 



SPINAGE. 



Fr. Epina-rd. — Ger. Spiiiat. 



The Spinage is very hardy, ex- 

 tremely wholesome and palatable, 

 and makes a delicious dish of 

 greens, retaining its bright 

 green color after cooking. 



Culture. — Should be planted 

 in very rich ground, the richer 

 the better. Sow in drills one foot 

 apart, and commence thinning 

 out the plants when the leaves are 

 an inch wide, and all should 

 be cut before hot weather, or Salsify. 



it will be tough and stringy. For early spring use, 

 the seed should be sown early in autumn, and every two 

 weeks thereafter if a succession is desired. In the 

 Northern States, the plants will require a slight protec- 

 tion of leaves or straw, but in the Southern States, no 

 protection is necessary, and they will continue their 

 growth most of the winter. 



Round Sum- 

 mer. — This va- 

 riety is generally 

 preferred for 

 early sowing, 

 and is the most 

 popular with our 

 market garden- 

 ers ; leaves large, 

 thick and fleshj^; 

 not quite so 

 hardy as the 

 Prickly, but 

 stands the winter 

 ver\' well. 



Improved 

 Thick Leaved _ , ^ 



Summer. -An Round Summer, 



improvement on the preceding, with larger and thicker 

 leaves, and of more substance. Particularly recom- 

 mended for market garden use. 



Long Standing- {Late Seeding). — An improved strain 

 of excellent merit, having all the good qualities of *he 

 ordinary sorts ; '^ 



what renders it 

 especially desir- 

 able is the fact 

 that it is much 

 later ingoing to 

 seed than any 

 other variety. 

 This valuable 

 property will be ^ 

 appreciated by 

 market garden- 



Prickly Win- - 

 ter.— The har- ^ 

 diest variety, 

 and will with- 

 stand the se- 







VVinteF 



