so 



D. M. FERRY & GO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



YELIiOW LOCUST (Robinia pseudo-acacia).— This tree 

 grows so rapidly that railroad ties may be cut from it 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. 



AVHITE MULBERRY (Morus aZ6a).— 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. 



RUSSIAN MULBERRY.— Of rapid growth, resembling 

 the apple tree in habit, with a grayish bark and drooping 

 branches. It is very easily cultivated and kept in dwarf 

 form, makes a fine hedge and wind break. It bears very 

 young, and 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. 



OSAGE ORANGE (Madura auranfiaca}.— How to 

 Plant, Cultivate and Make a Hedge.— 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 season 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 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 tender 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, leaving 

 only about eight inches of each season's growth. This 

 system must be pursued every season until the hedge is of 

 the desired height and form. TJnder proper treatment a good 

 hedge that will turn all kinds of stock can be grown from 

 seed in from three to four years. 



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CLOVER SEED. 



MAMMOTH, OR LARGE RED (TrifoUum pratense).— 

 It grows five or six feet high, but its stalks are so coarse and 

 large that stock will eat only the leaves, but by its judicious 

 use lands which have been exhausted can be reclaimed, as it 

 will grow where the common clover will fail. Sow at the 

 rate of about eight pounds per acre. Sixty pounds per 

 bushel. 



MEDIUM RED, OR JUNE (TrifoUum pratense').— 

 This is by far the most important of all the varieties for the 

 practical purposes of agriculture. Sow in spring or fall; and 

 when no other grasses are used, at the rate of eight to ten 

 pounds per acre, more being required on old, stiff soils than 

 on new and lighter ones. Sixty pounds per bushel. 



long; blossoms long, pointed and of a very deep red, or 

 carmine color. Makes good hay. Sow in April or May, eight 

 pounds of seed per acre. 



ALSIKE, OR SWEDISH {TrifoUum hybridum) .—The 

 most hardy of all the clovers; perennial. On rich, moist 

 soils it yields an enormous quantity of hay or pasturage, but 

 its greatest value is for sowing with other clovers and 

 grasses, as it forms a thick bottom and greatly increases the 

 yield of hay, and cattle prefer it to any other forage. The 

 heads are globular, fragrant, and much liked by bees, which 

 obtain a large amount of honey from them. Sow in spring 

 or fall, at the rate of six pounds per acre, where used alone. 

 Sixty pounds per bushel . 



WHITE DUTCH (TrifoUum repens).—A small, creep- 

 ing, perennial variety, valuable for pasturage and for lawns. 

 It accommodates itself to a variety of soils, but prefers 

 moist ground. Sow in spi'ing, at the rate of six pounds per 

 acre ; or when used with other grasses, half that amount. 



LUCERNE, OR ALFALFA (Medicaqo ^sativa).— 

 Where this succeeds, it is the most valuable of all the 

 clovers. It is more difficult to secure a good stand, as it 

 requires a very fine, mellow soil, and some protection the 

 first year, but when once estabhshed it will produce a profit- 

 able crop for from five to twelve years. In the driest and 

 most sultry weather, when every blade of grass withers, 

 Lucerne is as fresh and green as in spring, because the 

 roots go down to the moisture in the ground. 



BOKHARA (MeUlotus alba) Stveet Clover.— This is 

 exceedingly valuable as pasturage for bees. It is occasion- 

 ally found growing wild by the roadside in company with the 

 more common sweet clover (MeUlotus officinalis), and ma,y 

 be distinguished from it by its white flowers and less coarse 

 and more leafy stems. 



Crimson Trefoil, or Scarlet Italian. 



CRIMSON TREFOIL, OR SCARLET ITALIAN 



(TrifoUum incarnatum^. — This is an annual variety, in com- 

 mon use in the South for feeding green. The yield in fodder 

 is immense, and, after cutting, it at once commences growing 

 again, and continues until severe, cold, freezing weather. It 

 grows about one foot high; the roots are nearly black; leaves 



<«-^- 



GRASS SEEDS. 



TIMOTHY (Phleum pratense) .—This is the most valuable 

 of all the grasses for hay, especially in the North. Thrives 

 best on moist, loamy soils of medium tenacity. It should be 

 cut just when the blossom falls. Sow early in spring or fall, 

 at the rate of twelve pounds per acre, if alone, but less if 

 mixed with other grasses. Forty-five pounds per bushel. 



ORCHARD GRASS, OR COCK'S FOOT (Dactylis 

 glomerata).—One of the most valuable grasses on account of 

 its quick growth and valuable aftermath. It is ready for 

 grazing in spring two weeks sooner than most grasses, and 

 will continue green when other grasses are withered by dry 

 weather. It has a tendency to grow in tufts, and so does 

 better if sown with clovers, and as it ripens at the same time 

 the mixed hay is of the best quality. When sown alone, two 

 Ibushels are required per acre; if sown with clover, half that 

 amount. It is perennial, and will last for years, but its habit 

 of growth unfits it for lawns. Fourteen pounds per bushel. 



RED TOP (Agrostis vidgaris) .—In some sections this is 

 called Rhode Island Bent Grass. In Pennsylvania and 

 states farther south it is known as Herd's Grass, a name 

 applied in New England and New York to Timothy. It is a 

 good, permanent grass, standing our climate well, and makes 

 a good pasture when fed close. It is valuable for low, wet 

 meadows, not being injured by somewhat prolonged over- 

 flows. When sown alone, two bushels per acre are required, 

 sown in spring or fall". Fourteen pounds per bushel. 



FOWL MEADOTV, OR FALSE RED TOP (Poa sera- 

 Una).— It yields well when sown on low, moist land, and will 

 not suffer if not cut at the exact time. It can be mowed 

 almost any time from July to October. "WTien three feet 

 high it falls down, or lodges, and after a little time every 

 joint puts forth new branches. The stalk is always sweet 

 and tender, and cattle and sheep are fond of it. • It thrives 

 best when mixed with other grasses. Though resembling 

 Red Top in some respects, it is distinct, and we think superior 

 in every respect. Requires about the same amount of seed 

 per acre as Red Top, sown in spring or fall. Twelve pounds 

 per bushel. 



KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS (Poa pratensis).— This is 

 known in some sections as Green Meadow Grass, and Jltje 

 Grass, but should not be confounded with Poa compressa, 

 called by some June Grass, or Wire Grass. This species 

 produces the most nourishing food for cattle of any, and till 

 a late period in winter, and in the South abundant food 

 throughout the winter. In conjunction with white clover, it 

 forms the finest and closest of lawns; for this purpose an 

 extra quantity of seed should be used, say four bushels of 

 Blue Grass and six pounds of White Clover per acre. If 

 sown by itself for pasturage, two bushels will be required; 

 sowm early in the spring, or in October or November. Four- 

 teen pounds per bushel. 



PERENNIAL RYE GRASS (Lolium perenne).—A very 

 valuable variety for permanent pasture; very nutritious, 

 and stock are very fond of it. Succeeds well on almost any 

 soil, but is particularly adapted to moderately moist or irri- 

 gated lands. Large quantities are raised in England, and 



