46 



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



FRUIX TREE SEEKS. 



Apple. — Apple seeds do not reproduce the same vari- 

 eties, but generally give a hardy, though inferior sort, 

 and upon these seedlings are grafted or budded the finer 

 varieties. The seed may be planted in the fall, in rows 

 two feet apart, or they may be planted in early spring, 

 but in that case the seed must first be mixed with damp 

 sand and frozen, after which care must be taken that 

 they do not become dry before planting. As soon as the 

 plants are up, they should be well cultivated, and every 

 effort made to secure a vigorous growth the first season, 

 and as soon as large enough, may be budded in the sum- 

 mer or grafted in the spring. 



Cherry, mazzard. — This is the stock used for stand- 

 ard trees. Success is much more certain if the seed is 

 planted in the fall, as it is very difficult to keep it in 

 good condition through winter. The general culture 

 should be the same as for the apple, except that bud- 

 ding should be employed instead of grafting:. 



Cherry, mahaleb. — Used as stocks when dwarf trees 

 are wanted. Culture same as the above. 



Pear. — Success will depend very largely upon having 

 a deep, r/V/;, moist soil, as this is essential to vigorous 

 growth. Plant and cultivate like the apple, and bucf 

 when large enough. Every effort should be made to 

 secure a rapid and vigorous growth from the first. 



Peach. — Plant three inches deep in nursery rows 

 three feet apart, in the fall, or if delayed until spring. 

 crack the pits and plant the kernels only. They should 

 be large enough to bud the first season, and may be 

 profitably set in orchards two years from planting. 



Quince. — Quinces generally produce the same variety 

 from seed, but occasionally vary. The general culture, 

 and requirements of soil are the same as for the pear, 

 except that they are not budded. 



Forest Tree and Hedge 

 Seeds. 



Few investments made by our farmers will return a 

 larger profit in the course of a few years than the plant- 

 ing of land now uncultivated or cultivated at a loss, to 

 forest trees. The time is coming, not only surely but 

 rapidly, when a few acres covered with our best forest 

 trees will constitute a handsome fortune. Forests are 

 needed, not or.ly for supplying us v.-ith timber, but for 

 protection against v/inds and hurricanes. Grain fields 

 and orchards are destroyed or parched by dry winds 

 which were never known before the protecting forests 

 were destroyed. The terrible cyclones so frequent in 

 our Western States, and the beds of little streams in the 

 East now long dried up, should admonish all who have 

 a thought beyond the present, to the planting of forest 

 trees. 



EVERaREEN TREE SEEDS. 



The seed-; of evergreen trees sho'.ud be kept till time 

 of sowing in a dry, cool situation. As early in spring as 

 the ground can be worked, the seeds should be sown 

 thinly in beds of fine, sandy loam, raised about four 

 inches above the general surface. The seeds can be 

 raked in, or if very small, they may lie upon the surface 

 and then be rolled in or patted with the back of the 

 spade to firm the earth around the seeds. Then water 

 very sparingly, and with a fine rose, as 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 supported about eight inches above the 

 seed bed in such a way as to be easily removed to allow 

 cultivation and weeding. Keep the young plants well 

 weeded, and allow them to remain one or two years be- 

 fore transplanting where they .-ire to remain. 



American Arbor Vitse( Thuja occidi'nfalis)— Grows 

 to a small size, seldom over thirty feet high. Grows well 

 under cultivation, and is one of the best for a hedge as 

 a screen and wind break. If planted in exposed places, 

 along the country roads, would prove effectual in pre- 

 venting snow drifts. Its wood, which has an agreeable 

 odor and is easily split, is very durable. It is best grown 

 from seeds, which should be sown and the seedlings 

 transplanted as directed above. They should be carefully 

 watered when transplanted, and if a dry summer en- 

 sues, watering should be continued until the plants are 

 well rooted. 



Silver Fir {Ahies pectinatd). — An important timber 

 tree, and grows to a large size. While' the timber is 

 softer and less durable than pine, it is not liable to warp 

 or shrink, and is valuable for shingles, cabinet work, 

 boat building, etc. When young, the trees are tender 

 and easil}' injured by frost, but as it grows larger, it is 

 entirely hardy. 



Hemlock {^Tsiiga Canadensis). — One of the most 

 beautiful of our native evergreen trees. Of graceful 

 habit with light, elegant and delicate foliage. The tim- 

 ber is well known; coarse but strong. It is valuable for 

 planks, bridge building, roof boards, etc., as it endures 

 exposure to the weather for a long period. The bark is 

 used to an immense extent for tanning leather. It re- 

 quires a light, dry soil, and should never be planted on 

 a stiff clay which will make the tree tender and liable to 

 winter kill, though it is entirely hardy hundreds of miles 

 north of our latitude. Planted singly or among decidu- 

 ous trees, it is one of the most desirable varieties for 

 ornamental planting. 



Scotch Pine {Pijins sylvestris') — Very hardy, and 

 growing surely and rapidly on nearly every variety of 

 soil, forming a beautiful tree, and invaluable as a wind 

 break. Prof. C. S. Sargent says : " It is the most valu- 

 able tree farmers can plant for screens and wind breaks 

 about their fields and buildings." 



White, or Weymouth 'P'xno. (Finns Strobiis)—'Y\\Q 

 most majestic and valuable of all our native pines, and 

 has furnished immense qu an titles of the white pine lumber 

 so well known throughout the country. It thrives best 

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

 broad river valleys to higher lands. Except on high 

 limestone soils, it should be planted largely where pine 

 lumber is wanted. 



Norway Spruce {Abies e.vceisa). — 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. 



DECIDUOUS TREE SEEDS. 



With the seeds of deciduous trees, only u little care is 

 required in sowing at the proper season to insure suc- 

 cess. Those with hard shells like the locusts and haw- 

 thorn should be planted in the fall or placed in boxes 

 with sand and exposed to frost before planting, other- 

 wise 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 frost, pour boiling water over the seeds 

 and let it stand till cool, when a portion of the seeds will 

 have swollen ; pick these out and scald the rest again, 

 continuing until all have swollen. 



The seeds of the other deciduous trees on our list 

 should be planted frpm fhe middle of April to the mid- 

 dle of May, in drills about two feet apart, and covered 

 to the proper depth— about twice the diameter of the 

 seed. 



White Ash {Fraxinus Anu-ricana). — Requires a 

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

 deserves especial attention from those who wish to grow 

 trees for timber, because its wood is very light, strong, 

 elastic and durable, and is without an equal for making 



