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



51 



of grasses, as some varieties are the most luxuriant in 

 spring, others in summer, others again in autumn, and 

 a combination of the proper sorts is required for a per- 

 fect, carpet-like lawn. We have given much thought 

 and made many experiments to secure the best mixture, 

 and think what we offer is the best possible mixture for 

 permanent lawns, resisting the severe droughts of our 

 climate better than any other. It may be planted early 

 in spring or fall, and should be sown at the rate of from 

 sixty to eighty pounds to the acre, much more being re- 

 quired than for hay or pasturage. 



MISCEI^I^ANEOrS FARM 

 SEEOS. 



WINTER WHEAT. 



It is an encouraging fact that our farmers are begin- 

 ing to appreciate the importance not only of good seed 

 grain, but of selecting the variety best adapted to their 

 farms and methods of culture ; and as a result we now 

 have a score or more of new varieties of winter wheat, 

 each claiming to be the best. Realizing the importance 

 of the subject, we have made most careful inquiries 

 concerning these new sorts, and now have growing on 

 our trial grounds, samples of over thirty varieties. We 

 have also made arrangements to have the most promis- 

 ing sorts tested by skillful farmers of our own and ad- 

 joining States, and aim to procure a quantity of any new 

 and improved sort that may be offered, and to keep a 

 supply of all the best of the old sorts. The following 

 varieties are at present the most popular sorts : 



Michigan Bronze, or Mediterranean Hybrid. — 

 This is a cross between the old Diehl and the Red Med- 

 iterranean, having the fine flouring quality and bearded 

 head of the latter, with the productiveness, hardiness 

 and close, compact head of the former. Tested both on 

 our trial grounds in Michigan, and those of the Rural 

 New Yorker, in New York, I'y the side of forty other 

 varieties, it proved one of the hardiest and best. 



We think this wheat surer to produce a crop under 

 adverse circumstances than any other, and believe it a 

 most desirable variety, particularly for farmers' home 

 use. It is a vigorous grower, well adapted to light soils; 

 stands four feet high, and is of good stooling habit. 

 The straw is rather large at the base but small and stiff 

 below the head, and turns red or bronze at maturity. 

 The leaves are large and very dark green ; heads some- 

 what club shaped, short but very compact, and squarely 

 filled out at both ends, containing about sixteen breasts 

 of from three to four kernels each. The berry is of a 

 bright amber color, of medium size and very handsome. 



Valley. — Originated in Ohio, and although it has not 

 been extensively advertised, is one of the most promis- 

 ing of the newer varieties, and under favorable circum- 

 stances, will give enormous yields, but needs rich ground 

 and good cultivation. It stands from four to four and 

 a half feet high. The straw is of medium size, stand- 

 ing up and stooling out well. The heads are bearded, 

 long and loose, and of a peculiar rough or ragged ap- 



irance, and contain from sixteen to twenty breasts of 



.ree or four kernels each. The berry is amber, long 

 and hard. 



Martin's Amber.— This new variety originated in 

 the eastern part iA Pennsylvania, in 1878. It is of hy- 

 brid origin, one of its parents being the old Mediterran- 

 ean, the other unknown. While young, the plants lie 

 spread out over the ground, affording a good protection 

 to their own roots. It stools out remarkably well, re- 

 quiring ouly about three-fourths of a bushel of seed per 

 acre. The straw is tall and very stiff, standing up bet- 

 ter than most varieties. The leaves are of medium size. 



dark green and very free from rust. It has a large, bald, 

 smooth, well filled out head, containing from sixteen to 

 eighteen breasts, and is rather late in ripening. The 

 berry is of a light amber color, good size and very plump 

 and handsome ; has a very thin hull, makes but little 

 bran, and yields a large return of flour of the very best 

 quality. 



l^emocrat. — This comparatively new variety origi- 

 nated in Pennsylvania, by the selection of a single head 

 in a field of fall wheat. It is now becoming very popu- 

 lar in Canada. It is very early, ripening up at least one 

 week earlier than the Clawson. The heads are bearded 

 and compact, with white chaff ; the berry is of a very 

 light amber color, and much superior to Clawson in 

 milling qualities. 



Fultz. — Although not as showy in the field as Claw- 

 son, the Fultz will generally yield quite as much grain, 

 and it is of much better milling quality. It usually ex- 

 ceeds the expectation of yield while the Clawson as 

 generally falls below it. It is well known and much 

 esteemed in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and is becoming 

 popular elsewhere, being frequently introduced under 

 other names. The straw stands from four to five feet 

 high, and is rather small but very stiff, standing up well. 

 The leaves are large, of a dark green color and free from 

 rust. It has smooth, medium sized, compact heads, 

 containing from sixteen to eighteen breasts of two and 

 three kernels each. The berry is of a dull amber color, 

 medium size and long. 



Besides these, we have several other new sorts on trial, 

 and think that we shall be able to offer sorts which will 

 doAvell on all varieties of soil. 



J3f° N. B.— It should be borne in mind that all 

 seed wheats we offer have been carefully grown 

 and recleaned for seed purposes. .^^J 



Barley, common. — Barley succeeds best on lands 

 more sandy and lighter than those adapted to wheat. 

 It is sown in the spring, and can be grown farther north 

 than any other grain. Unless intended for seed, it 

 should be cut before fully ripe, as it is then heavier, of 

 better quality and less liable to shell. The land should 

 always be rolled immediately after sowing ; or perhaps 

 a better method is to roll the ground when the plants 

 are one or two inches high. The quantity of seed sown 

 per acre is about two and a half bushels, sown broadcast. 

 The weight per bushel is forty-eight pounds, though it 

 is almost always sold by the 100 pounds. The product 

 is from forty to sixty bushels per acre, according to cul- 

 tivation. 



Barley, Mansury. — A six rowed barley, with long, 

 heavy, well filled heads, containing large, plu'np grains. 

 Straw bright, very strong, and is not apt to lodge, even 

 on the richest lands. Ripens a week to ten days later 

 than common six rowed barley, or about the same time 

 as two rowed barley. Yields from 40 to 60 bushels per 

 acre, and is superior for malting. 



Barley, Naked, or HuUess. — This is a peculiar 

 grain, and not generally known. The corolla is not at- 

 tached to the grain, and it thus resembles wheat. It is 

 a splendid grain for all purposes for which barley is used, 

 and will make excellent bread when bolted and ground 

 like wheat, while the yield is much greater than wheat, 

 and fully equal to common barley. Nothing can sur- 

 pass this grain for grinding into meal for stock, as it 

 produces from forty to sixty bushels of solid grain per 

 acre, and is a very certain crop. 



Rye, Winter. — The time for sowing is from the 

 middle of August to last of September. One plowing is 

 given, and the seed sown broadcast, at the rate of one 

 and a half bushels per acre, and dragged in. Harrow- 

 ing and roll'ne in the spring are recommended. If cut 

 before fully ripe, the grain makes better flour and more 



