38 



D. M. Ferry & Go's Descriptive Catalogue. 



RAPE. 



This plant is extensively cultivated in England, both 

 for forage and for the seed, from which is manufactured 

 rape seed oil. The seeds are also much used as food for 

 canary birds. It is sometimes used as a salad plant 

 like mustard. As a forage plant, the yield is abundant, 

 and fed green, it is very nutritious, and nearly all ani- 

 mals are very fond of it. Sow in May, either broadcast 

 or in drills ; if the former, ten pounds, and if the latter, 

 four pounds per acre. 



RHUBARB, or PIEJ FI^AIVX. 



Fr. R/iubarbe. —G&r. Rhabarber. 



Rhubarb, familiarly known as Pie Plant or Wine Plant, 

 is cultivated in gardens for its leaf stalks, which are 

 used for pies and tarts. Immense quantities are now 

 annually sold in all the large markets. No private gar- 

 den should be without a bed of it. 



Culture. — Rhubarb succeeds best in deep, somewhat 

 retentive soil. The richer its condition, and the deeper 

 it is stirred, the better. Sow in drills an inch deep, and 

 thin out the plants to six inches apart. In the fall 

 trench a piece of ground, and manure it well ; then 

 transplant the young plants into it three feet apart each 

 way. Cover with leaves or litter the first winter, and 

 give a dressing of coarse manure every fall. The stalks 

 should not be plucked till the third year, and the plant 

 never allowed to exhaust itself by running to seed. Our 

 seed is saved from selected plants of Linnaeus, Giant and 

 other improved sorts. Like the, seeds of fruit trees, 

 seed cannot be relied upon to reproduce the same vari- 

 ety. 



ROQUETTK. 



An annual plant, of which the leaves are used as a 

 salad. 



Sow thinly in drills a foot apart as soon as spring 

 opens. Watering often, when necessary, diminishes 

 the tart taste of the leaves. This is objectionable only 

 as the leaves become old ; they should be used while 

 young. 



Salsify, or Vegfetatole Oyster, 



Fr. Salsijis. — Ger. Hafer- 

 rviirzel. 



The long, white, tapering root 

 of Salsify resembles a small pars- 

 nip, and when cooked, is a good 

 substitute for oysters, having a 

 \ ery similar flavor. 



Ci'LTURE. — It succeeds best in a 

 li^ht, well enriched soil, which 

 should be stirred to the depth of 

 twelve or fourteen inches. If it is 

 necessary to use manure, it should 

 be very fine and well rotted, for if 

 It IS fresh and coarse, the roots will 

 glow irregular and ill shaped. Sow 

 early and quite deep, and give the 

 general culture recommended for 

 the parsnip. The roots are per- 

 fectly hardy, and may remain out 

 all winter, but should be dug early 

 in the spring, as they deteriorate 

 rapidly after growth commences. 

 Store a quantity for winter use in 

 sand, 



Salsify. 



SPINAGE, 



Fr. Epinard. — Ger. Spinat. 

 The Spinage is very hardy, extremely wholesome 

 and palatable, and makes a delicious dish of greens, 

 retaining its bright green color after cooking. 



Culture. — Should be planted in very rich ground,, 

 the richer the better. Sow in drills one foot apart, and 

 commence thinning out the plants when the leaves are 

 an inch wide, and all should be cut before hot weather, 

 or it will be tough and stringy. For early spring use, 

 the seed should be sown early in autumn, and every two 

 weeks thereafter if a succession is desired. In the 

 Northern States, the plants will require a slight protec- 

 tion of leaves or straw, but in the Southern States, no 

 protection is necessary, and they will continue their 

 growth most of the winter. 



Round Sum- 

 mer. — This va- 

 riety IS generally 

 preferred for 

 early sowing, 

 and is the most 

 popular with our 

 market garden- 

 ers; leaves large, 

 thick and fleshy; 

 not quite so 

 hardy as the 

 Prickly, but 

 stands the win- 

 ter very well. 



Improved 

 Thick Leaved 

 Summer. — An Round Summer. 



improvement on the preceding, with larger and thicker 

 leaves, and of more substance. Particularly recom- 

 mended for market garden use. 



Long Standing {Late Seeding). — An improved strain 

 of excellent merit, having all the good qualities of the 

 ordinary sorts ; what renders it especially desirable is 

 the fact that it is much later in going to seed than any 

 other variety. This valuable property will be appreci- 

 ated by market gardeners. 



PricklyWin- 

 ter.— The har- 

 diest variety, 

 and will with- 

 stand the se- 

 verest weather, 

 with only a 

 slight protec- 

 tion of leaves or 

 straw. The seed 

 is prickly, leaves 

 triangular, ob- 

 long, or arrow 

 shaped. It is 

 employed for 

 fall sowing, 

 which in this 

 latitude is made 

 about the first of September. 



Prickly Winter. 



SQUASH, 



Fr. Coitrge. — Ger. Kuerbis. 

 The Squash is one of the most nutritious and valua- 

 ble of all our garden vegetables. The summer varieties 

 come to the table early in the season, and are very pal- 

 atable, while the winter sorts can be had in perfection 

 from August until the summer varieties are again in 

 condition. Few farmers appreciate the value of winter 

 squash as food for stock. We think an acre of squash, 

 costing no more to cultivate, and much less to secure, 

 will give twice as much food available for feeding stock 

 as an acre of corn, and we strongly urge our readers tG> 

 try a " patch " for this purpose. 



