38 



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



by many to be as good baked as the sweet potato. We have 

 taken the utmost pains with this sort and can recommend our 

 stock as in all probability the best in the country, and think 

 our customers can plant it in perfect confidence that every 

 fruit will be a pure Hubbard. 



GREEN nOUNTAIN. — A new sort which is quite similar to 

 the Hubbard in general appearance, but is smoother, larger 

 and the flesh is of deeper color with less green tinge close to 

 the rind. It seems to combine the excellencies of the yellow 

 soft shelled and the harder shelled sorts, and promises to be 

 one of the best of all for family use. 



suqarTcane. 



EARLY AflBER.— This variety is successfully growTi in 

 our extreme northern latitudes. It may be planted as late as 

 the 15th of June, and will be ripe enough to manufacture in 

 September. We know of no earlier variety. The beautiful, 

 amber colored syrup it produces is thought to be superior in 

 flavor to any other, and for sugar is unsurpassed. There are 

 many varieties that can be profitably grown where the sea- 

 sons are long, but this can be grown wherever Indian corn will 

 mature. It is useless to plant cane seed before the weather is 

 warm in spring. Three or f oui* pounds are required per acre. 



SUGAR CANE, EARLY AMBER. 

 EARLY ORANGE.— An exceedingly valuable variety. 

 Very large, of strong and vigorous habit, and does not fall 

 down. Its yield is twenty-five per cent in excess of the 

 Early Amber. It has a very pleasant flavor. It is early, 

 maturing only ten days later than the Early Amber. We 

 recommend it liighly to all desiring a superior cane, for all 

 localities, excepting the extreme North. 



SUNFLOWER. 



The different species of Helianthus are largely grown for 

 the seed, which is very valuable for feed and for oil. Every- 

 one who keeps poultry should use Sunflower seed liberally for 

 feeding, as there is nothing more wholesome and nutritious, 

 and which keeps hens in better condition for laying. Some 

 species are much planted in the flower garden for ornament. 



LARGE RUSSIAN.— This variety has large heads having 

 much more and larger seed than the common sort. Grows 

 almost invariably to a single unbranched stalk. Sow the 

 seed as soon as the ground is fit for corn in the North, later 

 will do just as well South, in rows three and one-half feet 

 apart and ten inches in the row. Cultivate same as for com. 

 In the autumn, after the first hard frosts, cut the heads off 

 the stems with a corn knife and pile loosely in a rail pen with 

 a solid floor, or in a corn crib. After cm-ing sufficiently so 

 that they will thresh easily, flail out or run through a thresh- 

 ing machine. Let the seed remain in the chaff until danger 

 from heating is past, then clean with an ordinaiy fanning 

 miU. This variety will yield 900 to 1,200 povmds of seed per 

 acre ordinarily. 



For ornamental varieties see Flotver Seeds. 



TOBACCO. 



Tobacco is an annual plant, and although it grows to greater 

 size in the South, an equally good quality can be produced in 

 the hot, dry summers of the North. We have taken a great 

 deal of pains to ascertain which are the best varieties for the 

 general planter, and believe the list we offer contains all that 

 are of special merit. 



Culture. — The seed shoiild be sown as early as possible 

 after danger of frost is over. A good plan is to burn a quan- 

 tity of brush and rubbish in the spring, on the ground 

 intended for the seed bed, then dig and thoroughly pulverize 

 the earth and mix with the ashes, after which the seed may 

 be sown and covered very lightly. When the plants are 

 about six inches high, transplant into rows four or five feet 

 apart each way, and cultivate thoroughly with plow and hoe. 



STERLING.— The newest and brightest of the yellow type; 

 and being the earliest to ripen, is surest in localities liable to 

 early frosts. 



LACKS.— Broad leaf, tough, fine fibre. On gray soils cures 

 bright and elastic; on dark soils rich and gummy. Known as 

 Jessup or Beat All in some localities. Good and reliable. 



HESTER. — A variety, which originated in Granville county, 

 N. C. Has no superior for the j'ellow type, and makes fine 

 cigar stock. It has size, shape, texture and color, and ripens 

 early. It recommends itself greatly in this, that it has 

 greater adaptability over a wider range of soils and latitude 

 than any other of the yellow varieties, and may, on this score, 

 be considered the surest. 



SWEET ORONOCO.— Used for first-class plug fillers, and 

 makes, when sun cured, the best Natural Chewing Leaf. A 

 favorite for the "Homespun'" wherever known. Knowm as 

 Little Oronoco in some localities. Makes an Eastern Filler 

 unsurpassed. 



BRADLEY BROAD LEAF.— A popular variety for export, 

 manufacturing and cigars. 



PERSIAN ROSE.— Finer tharu the Muscatel, and may be 

 relied upon to make the finest cigar stock. A very promising 

 variety. 



BIG HAVANA.— A hybrid Havana or Cuban seed leaf. A 

 heavy cropper, of fine texture, delightful flavor and the earli- 

 est cigar variety to mature and ripen. Will make two crops 

 from one planting in the South, while its earliness makes it 

 most desirable for high latitudes. 



CONNECTICUT SEED LEAF.— Best adapted to the cli- 

 mate of the Middle and Northern States, as it is more hardy 

 and endures the cold better than the tender varieties gro'WTi 

 South. In many of the Northern States and in Canada, this 

 variety is the staple crop. 



HAVANA. — From pure Cuban growTi seed, raised in the 

 famous district of Vuelta de Abajo. When grown in this 

 country, commands a high price for cigar stock. 



TOMATO. 



French. Pomme d' Amour. German, Liebesapfel. 

 Culture.— Tomatoes do best on light, warm, not over rich 

 soil, and success depends upon securing a rapid, vigorous, 

 unchecked growth during the early part of the season. Sow 

 in hot-beds from six to eight weeks before they can be set out 

 of doors, which is when danger from frost is past ; when the 

 l^lants have four leaves transplant into shallow boxes or cold 

 frames, setting them four or flve inches apart ; give plenty of 

 air and endeavor to secure a vigorous, but steady and healthy 

 growth, so that at the time of setting in the open ground they 

 will be strong and stocky. A slight check while the plants 

 are small will materially diminish their productiveness. Set 

 out of doors as soon as clanger from frost is over, but before 

 doing so harden off the plants by gradually exposing them to 

 the night air and by the withdrawal of water until the wood 

 becomes hard and the leaves thick and of a dark green color. 

 Transplant carefully and cultivate well as long as the vines 

 will permit. The fruit is improved in quality if the vines are 

 tied to a trellis or to stakes. 



FIRST EARLY RED SORTS. 



ATLANTIC PRIZE.— The fault of the distinctively early- 

 tomatoes was that they have been lacking in size and sym- 

 metry. This is all changed now. and instead of the small, 

 rough, deeply corrugated fruits of the hundred day type, we 



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