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



51 



nearly all of Europe. It is also largely used for lawns, in 

 conjunction vrith other grasses. Sow one and a-half to two 

 bushels per acre, in the spring. Twenty pounds per bushel. 



MEADOW FESCUE, OK ENGLISH BLUE GRASS 



(Festuca pratensis). — A perennial grass from two to four 

 feet high, with flat, broad leaves. This is one of the stan- 

 dard European grasses, and cattle are very fond of it, both 

 green and dry. It needs rich ground, and it succeeds well on 

 prairie soil, and is an excellent pasture grass to take the 

 place of the wild grasses, as it yields a large amount of early 

 and late feed. 



S^^EET TERNAL GRASS {Anthoxanthum odoratum). 

 — One of the earliest of grasses in spring, as well as the 

 latest in autumn, and about the only grass that is fragrant. 

 As a pasture grass, mixed with other species, it is valuable 

 on account of its earliness, and mixed with blue grass and 

 white clover, it is an invaluable adjunct for lawns, present- 

 ing a beautiful appearance, and exhaling a delightful frag- 

 rance when in blossom. Should form a part of the mixed 

 grasses in every lawn and dooryard. About ten i>ounds per 

 bushel. 



^^OOD MEADOW GRA.SS (Poa nemoralis).— Grows 

 from one and a-half to two feet high; has a perennial creep- 

 ing root, and an erect, slender, smooth stem. Its chief value 

 is in that it will produce a good crop of hay in moist, shady 

 situations, where it frequently grows quite tall. Cattle are 

 fond of it ; it is succulent and nutritious, and is, perhaps, the 

 best variety for sowing in orchards, under trees, and shaded 

 situations, either for hay or pasturage, and for parks and 

 pleasure grounds. About fourteen pounds per bushel. Two 

 bushels per acre. 



COM3IOX MILLET (Panicum miliaceum). —ReqmrQS a 

 dry. light, rich soil, and grows two and a-half to four feet 

 high, with a fine bulk of stalks and leaves and is excellent 

 for forage. For hay, sow broadcast, one-half bushel per 

 acre, from May 1st to August 1st. For grain, sow in drUls, 

 one peck to the acre, and not later than June 20th, Fifty 

 pounds per bushel. 



GERMAN, OR GOLDEN MILLET.— An improved 

 variety, mediimi early, growing three to five feet high. The 

 heads are closely condensed, though the spikes are very 

 nvunerous. The seeds are contained in rough, bristly 

 sheaths, and are round, golden yellow, and beautiful in 

 appearance. 



HUNGARIAN GRASS (Panicum Germaaicum).— This 

 is a species of millet, growing less rank, with smaller stalks, 

 often yielding two or three tons of hay per acre. It is verj- 

 popular and valuable with those who are clearing timber 

 lands. Like the millet, it is an annual, and requires to be 

 sown every season, but will produce a larger return than 

 almost any other crop. Sow and cultivate like mQlet. 

 Fortj'-eight ix»imds per bushel. 



.JOHNSON GRASS (Sorghum halapense).— This is a 

 valuable forage plant and is popular in the Southern States. 

 It is perennial, a rapid grower, very nutritious; comes earlj' 

 in the spring, grows until the frosts cut it down in the fall, 

 stands the drought better than an}- grass, having long, cane 

 like roots which penetrate the soil for moisture. The best 

 results follow sowing the seed in August and September, 

 enabling the seed to get a good root by fall, and forming a 

 better turf the following season. Sow with clean seed, broad- 

 cast, at the rate of one bushel :per acre, and cover with a 

 fight brush, or sow just before a heavy rain. Three good 

 crops the following season will be the result if the season is 

 favorable. Sowing in the spring does well, but the crop 

 would not be as heavy the first year. 



EXTRA FINE 3IIXED LAWN GRA.SS (Central Park 

 Mixture).— The essentials for a fine lawn are proper drainage, 

 a careful preparation of the soil, which should be made as 

 fine and light on the surface as possible, thorough rolling, 

 and a selection of the seeds of such grasses as will present a 

 luxuriant verdure from early spring till late in autumn; and 

 then, frequent mowings t\ith a lawn mower. However much 

 care is bestowed on the sofi and seed, no lawn will be beauti- 

 ful without frequent mowing and rolling. Too much care 

 cannot be bestowed upon the selection of grasses, as some 

 varieties are the most luxuriant in spring, others in summer, 

 others again in autumn, and a combination of the proper 

 sorts is required for a perfect, carpet like lawn. We have 

 given much thought and made manv experiments to secure 

 the best selection, and think our Central Park Mixture is the 

 best possible for permanent lawns. It may be planted 

 early in spring, or fall, and should be sown at the rate 

 rate of from sixty to eighty pounds to the acre, much more 

 being required than for hay or pasturage. If sown in the 

 spring, sow as early as possible, making the surface very 

 fine and smooth, then raking it over and sowing the seed just 

 before a rain, which, if the surface has just been raked, will 

 cover the seed sufficiently. If the expected rain does not 

 come, cover by rolling with a light roller. If sown in the fall, 

 sow before the autumn rains have ceased, and before very 

 cold weather give the young grass a light dressing of manure. 

 One pound of this mix'iure is sufficient to sow a space 30x20 

 feet, or 6<X) square feet. Kentucky Blue Grass in conjunction 

 with ^STiite Clover, forms one of the finest and closest of 

 lawns. For this purpose, use four bushels of Blue Grass 

 and about six pounds of White Clover per acre. 



WHEAT, RYE, ETC. 



MICHIGAN WINTER WHEAT. 



MICHIGAN BRONZE (Mediterranean Hybrid, or 

 Diehl Mediterranean).— This is a cross between theoldDiehl 

 and the Red Mediterranean, and the head is of the shape of the 

 Diehl, but with short beards, while the plant retains the 

 hardiness and productiveness of the Mediterranean, and the 

 grain is very superior in milling qualities. The plants stool 

 out well. The straw is of moderate length and size, but very 

 stiff, and turns bronze at maturity; the berrj' is bright amber 

 color, medium sized and handsome. We recommend this 

 variety as one of the surest and best for ordinary farms and 

 conditions. 



BARLEY, COMMON.— Barley succeeds best on lands 

 more sandy and lighter than those adapted to wheat It is 

 sown in the spring, and can be grown farther north than any 

 other grain. Sow from two to two and a-half bushels per 

 acre. Weight, forty-^ight pounds per bushel. 



BARLEY, HULLESS.— There are several varieties of 

 barley in which the grain shells out of the chaff like wheat. 

 One variety is also beardless. That we offer has a smaller 

 grain, but yields about as well as the Common Barley, and is 

 the sort largely grown by Bohemians and others for making 

 barley bread. 



RYE, FALL OR WINTER.— The time for sowing is 

 from the middle of August to the last of September. Prepare 

 the ground as for wheat and sow either broadcast, or with a 

 drilfat the rate of one and one-half bushels per acre. As a 

 crop to be used for late fall and early spring pasture this has 

 no equal, and it is one of the best to turn under for green 

 manure. 



RYE, SPRING.— Although this grain is often planted by 

 farmers especially for the paper makers, who prefer it to any 

 other, its principal value is as a '" catch " crop, to sow where 

 winter grain has failed. The straw is shorter and stiffer than 

 that of the winter variety, and is always easily secured, 

 while the grain, although smaller, is of equal value. 



BUCKWHEAT, COMMON.-Buckwheat should be 

 sown about the 20th of June, broadcast, at the rate of from 

 one to three pecks per acre. The average yield is from 

 twenty-five to thirty bushels per acre. It should be threshed 

 as soon as dry, on the groimd or bam floor. If allowed to 

 stand in mass, it quickly gathers moisture. 



BUCKWHEAT, JAPANESE.— It is rarely that a new 

 grain is introduced which has so decided and evident merit as 

 this. The plants are very large and vigorous and it matures 

 its seed early, while the grain is much larger and at the same 

 time has a thinner hull than the Common or the Silver HuU. 

 We recommend this especially for well drained or sandy land. 



BUCK^VHEAT, SILYER HULL.— This improved var 

 lety is much better than the old sort. It is in bloom longer, 

 matures sooner, and jields double the quantity per acre. 

 The husk is thinner, the corners less prominent, and the 

 grain of a beautiful light gray color. 



FIELD PEAS (Pisum sativum).— The varieties of field 

 peas have never been very numerous, nor are they much 

 increasing. The kinds mostly used are the Golden Vine, 

 Blue Prussian. Common White and Common Blue. Field 

 peas, in general, may be sown broadcast or in drills, after 

 the manner of field beans, about three bushels per acre. 



SPRING YETCHES, OR TARES (Vica sativa').—A 

 species of the pea, grown extensively in England, and to a 

 considerable extent in Canada, for stock, but not much used 

 in the States. Culture same as field peas, two bushels per 

 acre. 



FLAX (Linum usitatissimum').—Sovr late enough in the 

 spring to avoid frost, and early enough to secure the early 

 rains. A fair average quantity of seed to be sown on an 

 acre is one-half bushel, when cultivated for seed; if for the 

 fibre a larger quantity should be sown. Cut before quite 

 ripe, and, if the weather be dry, let it he m the rwath a few 

 hours, when it should be raked and secured from the 

 weather; thresh early in the fall and in dry weather. 



HEMP (Cayinabis sat iva).— If raised for manufacturing, 

 must be sown broadcast, at the rate of one-half bushel to 

 the acre; if for seed, should be planted in hills four feet 

 apart, and the plants thinned out to three or four most vigor- 

 ous stems in each hill. 



-^--g*-- 



BIRD SEEDS. 



CANARY SEED (Phalaris canarteusis). 

 HEMP SEED {Camialis sativa). 

 MAW (Paparer rha:as^. 

 MILLET SEED {Panicum miliaceum^. 

 RAPE SEED (Brassica iiapus^. 

 LETTUCE SEED (Lactuca sativa). 



