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



45 



FOREST TREE AND HEDGE SEEDS. 



Few investments made by farmers will return a larger 

 profit in the course of a few years than the planting of forest 

 trees on uncultivated land, or on land cultivated at a loss. 

 The time is rapidly coming when a few acres covered with 

 our best forest trees will be of great value. 



EVERGREEN TREE SEEDS. 



The seed of evergreen trees should be kept in a dry, cool 

 place until time of sowing. As early in spring as the ground 

 can be worked, the seed should be sown thinly in beds of 

 fine, sandy loam, raised about four inches above the general 

 surface. The seed can be raked in, or, if very small, it may 

 lie upon the surface and then be rolled in or patted with the 

 back of the spade to firm the earth around the seed. Then 

 water very sparingly, and with a fine spray. The young plants 

 are very apt to damp off, and need to be shaded from the hot 

 sun and drying winds. A good shade can be made of laths 

 nailed two inches apart to a light frame. This should be sup- 

 ported about eight inches above the seed bed in such a way 

 as to be easily removed to allow cultivation and weeding. Do 

 not allow the young plants to become choked with weeds. 

 Let them remain one or two years before transplanting to 

 permanent ground. 



AflERICAN ARBOR VIT>E (Thuja occidentalism.— SeMom 

 over thirty feet high. Grows well under cultivation, and 

 makes one of the best hedges for a screen and wind break. 

 It is best grown from seed, which should be sown and the 

 seedlings transplanted as directed above. About 20,000 seeds 

 per ounce. 



SILVER FIR {Abies pectinata).—An important timber 

 tree which grows to a large size. When young the trees are 

 tender and easily injured by frost, but as they grow larger 

 are entirely hardy. 



HEMLOCK (Tsuga CcmafZois/s).— One of the most beauti- 

 ful of our native evergreen trees Of graceful habit, with 

 graceful and delicate foliage. The bark is used very exten- 

 sively for tanning leather. It requires a light, dry soil. 

 About 12,000 seeds per ounce. 



SCOTCH PINE (Pinus sylvestris^.— Very hardy; grows 

 surely and rapidly on nearly every variety of soil, forming a 

 beautiful tree; invaluable for a wind break. About 4,800 

 seeds per ounce. 



' WHITE, OR WEYMOUTH PINE (Piiius strobtis').— The 

 inost majestic and valuable of all our native pines; thrives 

 best in light sand with clay subsoil, and prefers plains and 

 broad river valleys to higher lands. It has furnished 

 immense quantities of the white pine lumber so well known 

 throughout the country. About 2,800 seeds per ounce. 



NORWAY SPRUCE (Abies excelsa^).— Well known as one 

 of our most beautiful evergreen trees. It is hardy, of rapid 

 growth, and forms a dense, close screen, or hedge. About 

 20,000 seeds to the pound. 



climate and is readily propagated from seed. The seed 

 thrives best on new ground. It scarcely admits of any cov- 

 ering, but if simply pressed into the ground with the feet 

 will grow. When one year old transplant into nur.sery rows. 

 When two or three feet high set out the young trees where 

 they are to remain. 



BOX ELDER, OR ASH LEAVED MAPLE (Acer 

 negundo} — This seems to succeed as well as any in the 

 Northwest. The trees are said to reach a diameter of seven 

 inches in six years, and exceedingly hardy, not only to resist 

 cold but drought and dry winds; suffers less from insects 

 than any other. About 600 seeds per ounce. 



HARDY CATALPA (CataJpa speciosa.)— Scarcely a tree 

 on our list can be so strongly recommended as this for 

 planting on the treeless prairies of our Western States. It is 

 of quick growth, and has proven itself hardy as far north as 

 the Dakotas; is one of the most durable timbers known. 



Catalpa seed can be sown dry on a still day, but the better 

 way is to wet the seed for a few hours before planting, and 

 mix with a little sifted soil to prevent their sticking together. 

 Sow in April or May, in well prepared loamj- soil in rows four 

 feet apart, sowing seed thickly in the rows, covering half an 

 inch deep and firming the soil well over the seed. Cultivate 

 well during the summer, keeping them free from weeds. In 

 the fall or following spring the seedlings can be transplanted. 

 About 16,000 seeds per pound. 



EUROPEAN LARCH (LaWx E'ttropcea).— Grows to a large 

 size and makes excellent timber. The seed should be sown 

 in a half shady situation. 



EUROPEAN LINDEN (Tilia Europoea). —WooAvery white, 

 light, not liable to crack, and much prized for cabinet work, 

 and the panels of carriages. It should be planted by all bee 

 keepers, as no flower of its size yields better honey or in 

 greater abundance. 



HONEY LOCUST (Gleditschia triacanthos').— On account 

 of its rapidity of growth and durability of the timber, we 

 regard this as one of the most valuable of our native trees. 

 It is not so liable to injury by the borer as the common 

 Locust, and does not sprout from the root to a greater extent 

 than do most of our forest trees. The seed should be 

 treated with hot water, otherwise it might lie in the ground 

 from one 'to three years without sprouting. Take up and 

 heel in or cover the plants in the fall, and set out the next • 

 spring. After the first season they are perfectly hardy. 

 About 2,800 seeds per pound. 



YELLOW 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 i>osts of it having stood for 

 sixty years. *Culture same as the above. One ounce contains 

 about 1,300 seeds. 



DECIDUOUS TREE SEEDS. 



A little care with the seed of deciduous trees is only 

 required in sowing, at the proper season, to insure success. 

 Those with hard shells like the locusts should be planted in 

 the fall or placed in boxes with sand, and exposed t5 frost 

 before planting, otherwise they may lie in the ground from 

 one to three years without sprouting. If too late in spring to 

 expose them to the action of the frost, pour water which is 

 nearly boiling over the seeds and let it stand till cool, when a 

 portion of the seed will have swollen; pick these out and 

 scald the rest again, continuing till all have swollen. 



The seed of the other deciduous trees on our list should be 

 planted from the middle of April to the middle of May, in 

 drills about two feet apart, and covered to the proper depth ; 

 about twice the diameter of the seed. 



WHITE ASH (Fraxinus Americana') .—Requires a moist, 

 deep soil, on which it will grow very rapidly. It deserves 

 special attention from those who wish to grow trees for tim- 

 ber. Succeeds best from seed, which should be planted like 

 corn, where the trees are to stand, but not over an inch in 

 depth. When grown singly it is very ornamental, forming a 

 large round head. About 1,200 seeds per ounce. 



EUROPEAN ASH (Fraxinus excelsior').— 't^ucceeds best in 

 rather a warm climate; thrives upon the plains in deep soils, 

 but does poorly on stiff clay or light sandy soils. Its timber 

 is valuable in carriage making and manufacturing. About 

 600 seeds per ounce. 



WHITE BIRCH (Betula aZfta).— Valuable for ornamental 

 planting, and a favorite wood for shoe pegs, spools, bobbins 

 and similar small articles. The birch prefers a cool, humid 



WHITE nULBERRY (Morus aZ6a).- Desirable for feeding 

 silk worms. Grows readily and rapidly from seed, which 

 should not be covered too deep, as it is 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 blackberr}-, 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. About 20,000 seeds per ounce. 



OSAGE ORANGE (Macluraanrantiaca).—QvurvK^.—The 

 ground should be thoroughly pulverized before the seed is 

 planted. The surest way is to sprout the seed before plant- 

 ing, putting into a vessel and covering with warm (^ixot hot) 

 water. Keej) in a warm place, and change the water once 

 a day. Let the seed soak about five or six days, then pour 

 off the water and cover the vessel with a cloth. Keep in a 

 warm room and stir the seed occasionally. In a few days 

 more the seed will begin to sprout, and be ready for planting. 

 A pound of seed, if properly managed, will produce about 

 5,000 plants. Sow in April or May, with twelve seeils to the 

 foot, in drills twenty inches apart, keejnng free from weeils 

 until three to five inches high. Set out in permanent heilges 

 the following spring, in rows, placing them six inches apart 

 in the row, but should be cut back within an inch of the 

 ground before they are set out; to make a thick hedge it will 

 be necessary the first three years, to cut back, leaving about 

 eight inches of each season's growth. This sj-stem must be 

 pinsued every season until the hedge is of the desired height 

 and form. 



