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



2* 



ately we lost the time stock, and have been unable to offer it 

 for some years. We have now a stock fully equal to that 

 first sent out, and recommend it as the earliest white cob 

 sweet corn. Stalk short, without suckers; ears eight rowed, 

 similar to the Minnesota, and of the best quality of any of 

 the extra early sorts. 



EXTRA KAKLY ADAMS.— Nearly as early as the last, 

 but inferior in quality. It will, however, succeed in the 

 South where other sorts fail. Stalks very short, with no 

 suckers, bearing a single, very full, round, short ear, well 

 covered with husks: kernels white, smooth. 



EARLY MINNESOTA. — Very little later than the 

 above, but an old and deservedly popular market sort. 

 Stalks short and not suckering, bearing one or two ears well 

 covered with husks: ears long, eight rowed: kernels very 

 broad, sweet and tender, not shrinking much in drying. By 

 careful selection we have developed a stock of this standard 

 variety which is remarkably uniform, and in which all the 

 good qualities which have made this variety so popular are 

 intensified. 



CROSBY'S EARLY.— A most excellent variety, and re- 

 markably early. Ears of good size, twelve rowed, of 

 medium length: grain very thick, sweet, rich and delicate. 

 This is the sort grown in 3Iaine. and it is the use of this 

 variety rather than any peculiarity of soil that has given 

 Maine sweet corn its reputation for quality. 



LEET'S EARLY — The earliest large eared corn. Stalk 

 a little taller than the Minnesota, generally red: ears larger, 

 generally ten rowed, but sometimes with only eight; usually 

 white cob, but occasionally red. This is a very desirable 

 corn for those markets where an early, large eared corn is 

 wanted. Quality is quite uniformly good. T^is variety 

 took the first premium at the great Corn Show in Chicago in 

 188? as the best early sweet corn. 



PEE AND KAY.— This has proved a very popular var- 

 iety, particularly in the East. Stalks of medium height, 

 bearing two straight, handsome, ten or twelve rowed ears, 

 which are very large for so early a variety. They mature 

 about with Minnesota and are of good quality, cooking very 

 white and tender. 



EARLY SOUTHERN SWEET.-This is a true hybrid 

 corn, being the result of a crossing of the Minnesota on the 

 Cuzco. a Mexican species with very tall stalks and short, 

 thick ear, bearing grains as large as chestnuts. We made 

 the cross in 1882, and have been selecting and fixing the sort 

 since. Stalks about the height of Minnesota, very stiff, with 

 broad, stiff foliage, and bearing medium length ten rowed 

 ears covered with thick coarse husks. Grain large, with a 

 thick skin, but sweet and good. The ears are fit for use 

 about as soon as the Minnesota, and remain in condition 

 ■until late in the fall. From tests we have made, we believe 

 that this corn can be grown successfully in the extreme 

 South, where all other sweet corns fail. 



PERRY'S HYBRID.— Another eastern and very popular 

 variety. Stalks of medium height, very stout, bearing two 

 large, twelve or fourteen rowed ears, which often have a red 

 or pink cob: grain medium size, cooking very white and ten- 

 der. Matures about with the Minnesota. 



EARLY SWEET OR SUGAR,-Ears of good size, eight 

 rowed, tender and sugary; plant productive, hardy and 

 quite early. An excellent table sort. 



MOORE'S EARLY CONCORD. -Produces its very 

 large, handsome, fourteen rowed ears very low on the stalk, 

 and comes into use after Crosby's Early. The quality is 

 faultless, and it is valuable as an intermediate variety. 



BLACK MEXICAN.— Although the ripe grain is black, 

 or bluish-black, the corn, when in condition for the table' 

 cooks remarkably white, and is surpassed bv none in tender- 

 ness. This, by many is considered the most desirable for 

 family use of the second early sorts. 



EXCELSIOR.— The best quality of the second early 

 sorts, and the best for general crop. Stalks medium, bear- 

 ing from three to six small, curved ears, which are filled out 

 to the end with broad, white kernels that cook exceedingly 

 sweet and tender. 



OLD COLONY.— A very' old sort which has been revived 

 and sold under the name of Landreth's Sugar and other 

 names. Stalks six feet high; very productive; ear large, 

 ovai. with sixteen to twenty irregular rows; grain small 

 long, compressed and crowded on the white cob; quality the 

 very best. 



EGYPTIAN SWEET. -A variety noted for its produc- 

 tiveness, the stalks having from two to four ears each the 

 large size of its ears, its sweetness and tenderness, it is 

 peculiarly adapted for canning purposes, and the superiority 

 of the canned green corn of this variety is noticeable. 



HICKOX HYBRID — A very popular variety in the 

 East. Ears longer than the Evergreen, but not quite so large: 

 grain very white and retains this color when cooked and 

 until quite mature. A very desirable sort for canuers who 

 wish a late corn. 



STOWELL'SEYERGREEN SWKET.-This variety is 



intermediate in its season, and if planted at the same tone 

 with earlier kinds, will keep the table supplied until ( October 

 It is hardy and productive, very tender and sugary, remain- 

 ing a long time in condition suitable for boiling Our stock- 



has been carefully grown and selected to avoid the tendency 

 to a shorter grain and deterioration in the Evergreen charac- 

 ter of this best of all late sorts. 



.MAMMOTH SWEET. -This variety produces "the 

 largest ears of any sort with which we are acquainted, a 

 single ear sometimes weighing two or three pounds. It is 

 of excellent quality, sweet, tender and delicious, and its only 

 fault is the immense size of the ear. 



EARLY ADAMS. OR BURLINGTON*. -An excellent 

 early field variety, and often used for table, particularly in 

 the South. Ears about eight inches long, twelve or fourteen 

 rowed: kernels white, rounded, somewhat deeper than 

 broad, and indented at the outer end, which is whiter and 

 less transparent than the inner. 



EARLY RED BLAZED. —The experience of l^ 

 demonstrated that this is the hardiest field corn in cultiva- 

 tion. It is not only early, but will endure uninjured a degree 

 of cold and wet that would be fatal to other sorts. Stalks 

 medium height, without suckers, dark screen with red or 

 bronze markings. Leaves broad, green at base, but bronze 

 at top, particularly while the plant is young. Ears long, 

 eight rowed, well filled, small at base. Grain flinty and of 

 fine quality, bright yellow at base of ears, but red at the tips. 



EARLY GOLDEN DENT, OR PRIDE OF THE 

 NORTH.— A very early Dent variety, ripening- with the 

 Flint sorts, and can be successfully grown further north than 

 any other variety of Dent corn. Stalks small, with broad 

 leaves. Ears short, twelve to sixteen rowed, well rilled. 

 Grain long, yellow, making an extra quality of meal. 



EARLY GOLDEN LENA WEE DENT.— Plant medium 

 sized.' stout, with very broad leaves, producing two ^ars. 

 which are large, cylindrical, sixteen or eighteen rowed, with 

 very deep yellow grain and an exceedingly small cob. It 

 matures very early and surely, and has repeatedly made a 

 crop when other sorts failed. 



EARLY YELLOW HATHAWAY DENT. — Stalks 

 above medium, stout, with many broad leaves and bearing 

 two ears on long foot stalks so that they hang point down- 

 wards, thus protecting the grain from rain. Ears medium 

 sized, with very' small cob, especially at the base; sixteen 

 to twenty rov. r ed, grain yellow, dented with small, projecting 

 point, very long, and wedge shaped. 



ENSILAGE.— Many people think that any variety of 

 corn will do for ensilage or fodder. This is only partially 

 true; some varieties are mucli better for this purpose, giving 

 a larger proportion and better quality of fodder. What we 

 offer is especially valuable and will give an immense yield 

 of fodder of thebest quality. 



RICE, FOR PARCHING.— A very handsome variety. 

 Ears short: kernels long, pointed and resemble rice; color 

 white; very prolific; used entirely for parching, for which 

 purpose it has no superior. 



CUCUMBER, 



French, Concombre. German, Gurken. 



This is one of those vegetables which can be grown to per- 

 fection by anyone who can control a few square yards of soil 

 which is fully exposed to the sun. and the fruit is so much 

 better when fathered fresh from the vines than it is when 

 obtained in the market, that every family should be supplied 

 from its own yard. 



Culture.— The plants are tender, and planting should be 

 delayed until settled warm weather, or ample facilities 

 should be provided for protecting them from frosts and dur- 

 ing cold storms. Form low. flat hills six feet apart each way. 

 of rich soil, by mixing in a quantity of tfioroughli/ decom- 

 posed manure, stirring the soil to a depth of sixteen inches 

 or more; or open shallow trenches six to eight feet apart and 

 mix with the bottom earth a quantity of similar manure and 

 replace the surface soil. Scatter on each hill fifteen or 

 twenty seeds, or one every inch along the rows, and cover 

 one inch deep, pressing the soil firmly over them. 



As soon as the plants are up they will be liable to attack 

 bv the striped cucumber beetle. These may be kept off by 

 frequent dusting with air slaked lime. soot, or sifted ashes 

 diluted with fine road earth: care should be taken not to use 

 too much, for if too strong any of the above materials will 

 kill the vines. We have found the following mixture quite 

 effectual: Take unslaked lime, add enough water to slake; 

 when it begins to steam sprinkle over it flowers of sulphur at 

 the rate of one-half lb. per bushel of lime: cover and watch 

 that the sulphur does not take fire— if it should, add a little 

 water: when the lime is thoroughly slaked mix well and 

 apply by dusting on the leaves rather sparingly. This mix- 

 ture should be used while fresh. When the plants are well 

 established, thin to three plants to each hill. Ingathering, 

 pick all the fruit before it begins to ripen, as the vines will 

 cease setting fruit as soon as any set>d commences to mature. 

 In field culture, plow furrows four feet apart across the 

 field, and similar ones, but omitting every- fourth furrow, at 

 right angles to the first: this will form paths for the distribu- 

 tion of manure and the gathering of the fruit. At each inter- 

 section drop a shovelful or more of well rotted manure. 

 which should be weU mixed with the soil, so as to form a low. 

 tlat hill. In gathering for pickles cut the stem, instead or" 

 pulling the fruit off, and be careful not to mar the fruit in 

 any way. for if the skin is broken the pickles will not keep 



