Dr M. Ferry & Go's Descriptive Catalogue. 





Scene on D. M. Ferry & Go's Seed Farm— HOEING. 



tracts are with experienced growers, many of whom have devoted their entire time and attention 

 for years to the production of some special crop to which their location is peculiarly adapted, 

 and so have acquired a skill in growing this particular seed which no gardener or even general 

 seed grower can hope to equal. But we are not content to rely solely on their reputation and 

 experience, but each crop is visited and a careful r-ecord kept, not only of its condition and qual- 

 ity, but of the facilities for, and pains taken to secure, the highest excellence. The stock seed 

 used is in all cases furnished or controlled by us, and in procuring it we make every effort to secure 

 the vei7 best attainable regardless of cost or trouble. In this work we are greatly aided by 



Our TTrial C»roiail€ls. These are located within the city on Woodward avenue, 

 and here we have planted, side by side, and 

 treated precisely alike, samples of the stocks 

 from different growers, and also samples of any- 

 new sorts or improved stocks of old varieties 

 which we may be able to procure; and a care- 

 ful record is made of the slightest difference in 

 quality or character, so that we can detect the 

 least tendency to deterioration, or notice and 

 take advantage of any superiority in any partic- 

 ular stock. Some idea of the extent of this 

 work may be gathered from the size of our 

 grounds which occupy nearly seven acres ; and 

 also from the number of samples planted, 

 which last season was over 2,300. Here, .too, 



seeds are tested as to vitality, a sample from, ^ ^ . m ^- tt n^-i/-, 



, . - T . ^ , Interior Testing House on Trial Grounds. 



every lot of seeds received bemg counted out 



and planted, and a record made of the percentage that will grow. How this was done was well 

 described in last year's catalogue, and is illustrated on page 2. That this work is well done is 

 proven by the fact that not only has a record of the work been asked for and published by scien- 

 tific societies in this country, but the methods and arrangements used have been made the subject 

 of an illustrated and highly complimentary article by the leading periodical devoted to scientific 

 agriculture in Germany. Intermediate between the Trial Grounds and the Seed Famrs proper 

 are several parcels of land devoted to the development of improved stock seed. Whenever, in 

 visiting crops, we see a plant of noticeably superior quality, we save the seeds produced by it and 

 plant them by themselves in one of these gardens ; and if the product is found to be superior, 

 it is saved and grown by itself as a commencement of a new or improved stock. In this way 

 we are each year improving our seeds. 



