XL 



resemble an immense flower garden. A few weeks later and the flowers have 

 disappeared, and one beholds instead of them, waving fields of ripened seed, 

 and an army of- workmen gathering the crops into the large curing and drying 

 houses constructed for that purpose. Some years ago, Mr. Ferry purchased there 

 a comparatively small farm, and has since, as the trade required, added acre 

 after acre, and field after field to it, until now he has a plantation extending one 

 mile and a quarter in frontage on Grand River Avenue, and a mile in depth to 

 the Joy Road, including several hundred acres of as choice land as there is in 

 Michigan. Preliminary to its appropriation to seed growing, each field is thor- 

 oughly tile drained ; and thoroughness in cultivation and applying fertilizers has 

 never failed to bring a large return of seed of superior quality, not obtainable by 

 indifferent cultivation on poor, or undrained land. Mr. Ferry spends a portion 

 of nearly every day during the growing season at the farm, exercising a general 

 supervision over it, and a practical and efficient seed grower, well informed as to 

 the requii'ements of the horticulture of this age, superintends the details. 



CONTRACTS W^ITH OTHER GROWERS. 



In addition to the seeds grown upon this farm, the firm have heavy con- 

 tracts extending for a term of years with many experienced seed growers in 

 different parts of the United States and Canada. Messrs. Ferry & Co. furnish 

 the stock seed, and a member of the firm visits these growers at the proper sea- 

 son, inspects the crops, and, if satisfactory, accepts them. All seed thus 

 obtained is known to be of first quality. A diversity of soil and climate is 

 required to perfect the almost innumerable varieties they offer for sale, and this 

 requisite is taken into account in locating these contracts. 



The very large requirements of this house, enable them to control the entire 

 crops of some of the very largest and best growers in the country, and thus they 

 reap a material advantage over smaller houses. 



THEIR MAILING BUSINESS 



Has increased very rapidly, and this feature now nearly equals their entire busi- 

 ness only a few years since. D. M. Ferry & Co's Annual Catalogue is anx- 

 iously looked for every spring, by thousands of their patrons throughout the 

 country, and selections are made and forwarded with the money, and the amount 

 in seeds is returned to them, so that the most remote locality can be supplied as 

 easily as the most central metropolis. A large force of employes are required to 

 attend to the details of this department ; and during the busiest season, a dray 

 is required to convey their mail to the post office. 



THEIR PUBLICATIONS. 



Messrs. Ferry & Co. publish annually, and send free to all applicants, 



the following Catalogues, viz : 



In January — Illustrated, Descriptive and Priced Catalogue of Vegetable, Agri- 

 cultural and Flower Seeds, and Bedding Plants, Roses, &c. 



In February — Catalogue of Seeds put up in Packages, Colored Packets and 

 Papers, including Seeds usually contained in the boxes they fur- 

 nish merchants throughout the country. 



In July — Illustrated, Descriptive and Priced Catalogue of choice Dutch Bulbs, 

 and Dried Natural and Everlasting Flowers. 



