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We believe it is customary for publishers, at the commencement of the 

 New Year, to claim the indulgence of what might be termed a " friendly chat " 

 with its readers, through the columns of the periodical published. Availing 

 ourselves of this time-honored custom, we beg to say that at the present writing, 

 July, 1st, there is every prospect of an abundant harvest of the different varieties 

 of seeds we grow on our extensive Greenfield Seed Farm, near Detroit. This 

 immense farm, comprising hundreds of acres, can of course, furnish only a 

 small proportion of the vast quantity of seed we require to supply the constantly 

 increasing demand for D. M. Ferry & Go's Seeds ; but it can furnish the pm-e 

 stock seed, improved by careful selection and highest culture, from which to 

 grow the roots and vegetables which in turn produce the seed ; while of some 

 varieties it yields a nearly sufficient quantity for our own trade. It is almost 

 needless to say that every acre of this land is under the highest possible state of 

 cultivation, no care or expense being spared to make it yield the maximum 

 amount. It is thoroughly underdrained with 45 miles of round, brick tile, and 

 fertilizers are used in untold quantities. The full and perfect development of 

 root and vegetable which is to reproduce the seed, is carefully attended to, 

 which, together with the rigid process of selecting, so long and so systematically 

 practiced, undoubtedly go far toward creating the wide-spread and enviabl-e 

 reputation our seeds have gained. 



Of one variety alone of Turnip, (our Improved Purple Top Strap Leaf,) 

 we have a field of 65 acres, nearly ready to harvest, all grown from selected 

 roots, which, if an average yield is obtained, will produce 13 TONS of seed. 

 We have also about 50 acres of Onions, which promise a pi-oduct of over 10 

 TONS of seed, beside some 5,000 or 6,000 bushels of bulbs from which to grow 

 the seed another season, and a large quantity of Top or Button Onions. Of 

 the standard and new and improved sorts of Gabbage, such as our Premium 

 Flat Dutch, Premium Drumhead, Early Jersey Wakefield, Early Wyman, 

 Fottler's Early Drumhead, Marblehead Mammoth and Stone Mason varieties, 

 we. have a large breadth, all looking well; we are never sure of the quantity 

 however, until it is harvested, but we a7'e sure of the purity of the stock, which 

 is the desideratum of all conscientious, honest seed-growers. Beets, Parsneps, 

 Lettuce, Sweet Gorn, Carrots, &c., &c., are all we could desire, and we have 

 no fault to find with the growing crops. 



While receiving with considerable caution the very large number of what 

 are claimed to be new varieties of wondrous merit, many of which are of little 

 or no value, we shall continue our system of testing all, winnowing the wheat 

 from the chaff, and as far as possible, protect our patrons from the imposi- 

 tions of designing, untried, inexperienced seedsmen so called, " whose name 



