48 



D. M. Ferry &. Cos Descriptive Catalogue. 



in deep soils, but does poorly on stiff clay or light sandy 

 soils. Its timber is valuable in carriage making and 

 manufactures. 



W^hite Birch {Betula «/3a).— Valuable for orna- 

 mental planting, and a favorite wood for shoe pegs, 

 spools, bobbins and similar small articles. The birch 

 prefers a cool, humid climate, and is readily propagated 

 from seed. Seeds thrive best on new ground. They 

 scarcely admit of any covering but if simply pressed 

 into the ground with the feet they will grow. When 

 one year old transplant into nursery rows. When two 

 or three feet high, set out the young trees where they 

 are to remain. 



Hardy Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa). — Quite distinct 

 from and much hardier than, the common catalpa. 

 Scarcely a tree on our list can be so strongly recom- 

 mended as this for planting on the vast treeless prairies 

 of our Western States. It is of very quick growth, has 

 proven itself hardy as far north as Dakota, and is one of 

 the most durable timbers known, lasting in many well 

 authenticated instances nearly or quite a century. 



Catalpa seeds can be sown dry on a still day but the 

 better way is to wet the seeds for a few hours before 

 planting, and mix them with a little sifted soil to pre- 

 vent their sticking together. They will germinate more 

 promptly for the soaking they have received, and will 

 not be so likely to be blown away while being sown. 

 Sow in April or May, in well prepared loamy soil, in 

 rows four feet apart, sowing seed thickly in the rows, 

 covering half an inch deep and firming the soil well 

 over the seeds. Thick sowing is desirable, as a dozen 

 little plants together can force their way through the 

 surface easier than singly, and if they are too thick 

 they can be thinned and transplanted on a damp day as 

 easily as cabbage plants. Cultivate well during the 

 summer, keeping them free from weeds. In the fall or 

 following spring, the seedlings can be transplanted 

 where they are to remain. Four feet apart each way 

 is the proper distance, and they should be cultivated 

 about like corn for two seasons. There are from 16,000 

 to 20,000 seeds to the pound. 



As an ornamental tree, the Catalpa appears to the best 

 advantage planted in small groves. 



Hawthorn {C^-ataegrts oxyaca7itha).-^ii\Aox(\ grows 

 over twenty feet high and makes an excellent hedge. 

 Seed should usually be sown in the fall, or frozen before 

 planting, as recommended above. Sometimes they re- 

 main in the ground two years before they germinate. 



European Larch [Larix Europcea). — Grows to a 

 large size, and makes excellent timber. Planted on 

 lands of very little value for ordinary farming, it im- 

 proves instead of impoverishing them, as the annual 

 crop of leaves deposit more nutriment than the tree 

 takes up ; besides the yield of timber in a series of years 

 would prove a very profitable investment. Seeds should 

 be sown in a half-shady situatioa. 



European Linden {Tilia EuropcBa).—A great fa- 

 vorite for ornameutal planting in Europe. Its wood is 

 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 triacavthos).— On ac- 

 count 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. Without the preparation recommended above, 

 the seeds may lie from one to three years in the ground 

 without sprouting. Take up aud heel in or cover the 



plants in the fall, and set out the next spring. After 

 the first season, they are perfectly hardy. One pound 

 contains about 2,300 seeds. 



Yellow Locust {Robini'a pseudo-ac&cid). — This tree 

 grows so rapidly that railroad ties may be cut 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 Mulberry {tuorus alba). — Desirable for 

 feeding silk worms. Grows readily and rapidly from 

 seeds, which should not be covered too deep, as they 

 are quite small. It delights in a warm, dry soil, and 

 will succeed in almost any place that will produce a 

 good corn crop. 



Ru.ssian Mulberry. — Introduced into this country 

 by the Mennonites, and by them extensively planted 

 for silk worm culture. Of rapid growth, resembling 

 the apple tree in habit, with a greyish bark and droop- 

 ing branches. It is very easily cultivated, and kept in 

 dwarf form makes a fine hedge and wind break. . It 

 bears very young, and it is said, every year. 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. It is said to reproduce itself exactly from seed, 

 and as our seed is direct from the Mennonite colony, it 

 can be depended on as true and reliable. 



Osage Orange {Madura aurantiaca). — How to 

 Plant, Cultivate and Make a Hedge.— The Osage 

 Orange is a native of Texas, but can be grown and cul- 

 tivated advantageously in most parts of the United 

 States. The ground should be' thoroughly pulverized 

 by either plowing or spading, before the seed is planted. 

 The surest way is to sprout the seed before planting, as 

 it is very slow to germinate when put into the ground 

 without being sprouted, sometimes taking a whole sea- 

 son to come up. To sprout the seed, put into a vessel 

 and cover with warm {not hot) water. Keep the vessel 

 in a warm place, and change the water once a day. Let 

 the seed soak about five or six days, after which pour off 

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

 warm room and stir the seed occasionally. In about one 

 week more they will begin to sprout, and are ready for 

 planting. A pound of seed, if properly managed, will 

 produce five thousand (5,000) plants. The seed should 

 be sown in April or May, with twelve good seeds to the 

 foot, in drills twenty inches apart. They should be 

 kept free from weeds, as the young plants are very ten- 

 der and delicate until they are from three to five inches 

 high. They can be set out in permanent hedges the 

 following spring, in rows, placing them six inches apart 

 in the row, but should be cut back to within an inch of 

 the ground before they are set out; and to make a thick 

 hedge, it will be necessary to cut back the first three 

 years' growth, leaving only about eight inches of the 

 season's growth. This system must be pursued every 

 season until the hedge is of the desired height and form. 

 Under proper treatment, a good hedge that will turn all 

 kinds of stock, can be grown from seed in from three to 

 four years. 



CI.OVER~SEE»S. 



There are no plants so valuable for fertilizers as the 

 Clovers. They have the faculty of absorbing nitrogen 

 from the air, and also of rendering available much of 

 the inert plant food of the soil. Their long, powerful 

 tap roots penetrate to a great depth, loosen- the soil, 

 admit air, and by their decay add immensely to the fer- 

 tility of the soil. The seed may be sown in fall or 

 spring •, which is the best season will depend upon local 

 climate, and method of culture, but in the majority of 



