52 



D. M. Ferry &, Co'S Descriptive Catalogue. 



of the yield, and repeated the test for four years; when 

 one found that the Clawson had out-yielded all the 

 others by an average of four bushels per acre, while the 

 other found that on his farm the Diehl out-yielded not 

 only the Clawson but the other varieties by nearly three 

 bushels per acre. 



From these and many other observations we feel con- 

 fident that on at least one-fourth of the farms of this 

 country where winter wheat is sowed, a change in the 



Michigan Bronze. Martin's Amber. 



variety used would increase not only the yield but also 

 the certainty of the crop. In order to do our part in 

 this good work, we have for the past four years traveled 

 many miles in order to examine carefully, £n the fields 

 the newer sorts of wheat and compare them with older 

 kinds. We have also visited many of the, experimental 

 stations and have tested the different sorts on our trial 

 grounds, and as a result have selected the following as 

 offering in connection with the universally grown Claw- 

 son, a list, some one of which is especially adapted to 

 nearly every soil and climate where winter wheat can be 

 grown at all. We earnestly recommend every wheat 

 grower to test these varieties on his own farm. 



Michigan Bronze {Mediterranean Hybrid^ or 

 Diehl Mediterranean), — We visited a field of this va- 

 riety grown by the originator in 1882, and were so 

 pleased with it that we were tempted to purchase the 

 entire stock, but finally decided that in spite of evi- 

 dent hardiness and productiveness, we would not assume 

 the responsibility of introducing until we had seeri it 

 more thoroughly tested under a variety of conditions. 

 In the summer of 1883 we visited many fields of it and 

 saw it under a great variety of conditions of soil and 

 culture, and uniformly it seemed hardier, yielded bet- 

 ter, and the grain was of better quality than any sort 

 with which it was compared. On our own grounds and 

 those of the " Rural New Yorker " it was tested by the 

 side of over forty different varieties, and found the most 

 desirable of all. Every farmer who had grown it was 

 anxious to secure seed, and that season we placed it in 

 the hands of several hundred growers, and waited some- 

 what anxiously to see what the report of 1884 would be 

 We have heard from many of those who planted it lasc 

 season, and it has received universal praise as the hardi- 

 est and best wheat they know of. We can with confi- 

 dence then, recommend this variety as not only the 

 hardiest in cultivation, but the most productive, and of 

 the best milling quality, and we strongly urge every 

 farmer to secure some for this season's planting, as it is 

 certain that it will command an extra price for seed grain 

 for some years 



It is a cross between the old Diehl and the Red Medi- 

 terranean, having the fine flouring quality and bearded 

 head of the latter, with the productiveness, hardiness 

 and close compact head of the former. It is a vigorous 

 grower, well adapted to light soils, stands four feet high 

 and is of good stooling habit. The straw is rather large 

 at the base, but small and stiff below the head, and turns 

 red or bronze at maturity. The leaves are large and 

 very dark green, heads slightly bearded, short but very 

 compact and squarely filled out at both ends, containing 

 about sixteen breasts of from three to four kernels each. 

 The berry is of a bright amber color, of medium size and 

 very handsome. Millers universally pronounce it the 

 best milling wheat known, excelling in this respect the 

 old Red Mediterranean. 



Valley. — On very rich soils and for those who prefer 

 a little later wheat with a longer and more showy head, 

 the Valley will prove one of the best sorts. It originated 

 in Ohio, and although it has not been extensively ad- 

 vertised, is one of the most promising of the newer va. 

 rieties, and under favorable circumstances, will give 

 enormous yields, but needs rich ground and good culti- 

 vation. It stands from four to four and a half feet high. 

 The straw is of medium size, standing up and stooling 

 out well. The heads are bearded, long and loose, and 

 of a peculiar rough or ragged appearance, and contain 

 from sixteen to twenty breasts of three or four kernels 

 each. The berry is amber, long and hard. 



Martin's Amber. — Some farmers will not plant a 

 bearded wheat no matter what its other qualities are, 

 and for such and those who demand a large handsome 



