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



49 



FRUIT TREE SEEDS. 



APPLE.- Apple seeds do not produce the same varieties, 

 but generally give a hardy, though inferior sort, and upon 

 these seedlings are grafted or budded the finer varieties. The 

 seeds 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 plant- 

 ing. As soon as the plants are up, they should be well culti- 

 vated, and every effort made to secure a vigorous growth 

 the first season. As soon as the plants are large enough they 

 may be budded in the summer or grafted in the spring. 



CHERRY, MAZZAKD.-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 budding 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, rich, moist soil, as this is essential to vigorous growth. 

 Plant and cultivate like the apple, and bud 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. 



PLUM. — The directions given for planting apples will also 

 apply to plums, except the pits should be planted further 

 apart in the row. The varieties raised from seed will be 

 hardy, vigorous stalks upon which to graft the choicer sorts. 



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 ar'e not budded. 



<&* 



FOREST TREE *£ HEDGE 

 SEEDS. 



Few investments made by our farmers will return a larger 

 profit in the course of a few years than the planting 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 be of great value. 



EVERGREEN TREE SEEDS. 



The seeds of evergreen trees should be kept till time of 

 sowing in a dry, cool place. 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 spray. The 

 young plants are very apt to damp off, and need to be shaded 

 from the hot sun and dryiner 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 cultiva- 

 tion and weeding. Do not allow the young plants to become 

 choked by weeds, and let them remain one or two years 

 before transplanting to permanent ground. 



AMERICAN ARBOR VIT^ (Thuja occidentalis).— 

 •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 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 ensues, watering should be continued 

 until the plants are well rooted. 



SILVER FIR (abies pectinata).— An important timber 

 tree, and grows to a large size. Whe.n young the trees are 

 tender and easily injured by frost, but as they grow larger 

 are entirely hardy. 



HEMLOCK (Tsuga Canadensis).— One of the most beau- 

 tiful of our native evergreen trees. Of graceful habit, with 

 light, elegant and delicate foliage. The bark is used to an 

 immense extent for tanning leather. It requires a light, dry 

 soil, and should never be planted on a si iff clay, which will 

 make the tree tender and liable to winter kill", though it is 

 entirely hardy hundreds of miles north of our latitude. 



SCOTCH PINE (Pinns 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 valuable tree 

 farmers can plant for screens and wind breaks about their 

 fields and buildings." 



4 



WHITE OR WEYMOUTH PTNB (Pin-us strobus).- 



The most majestic and valuable of all our native pines, and 

 has furnished immense quantities 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 excel8a).—WeU 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 a little care is 

 required in sowing at the proper season to insure success. 

 Those with hard shells like the locusts should be planted in 

 the fall or placed in boxes with sand and exposed to frost 

 before planting, otherwise 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 till all have swollen. 



The seeds of the other deciduous trees on our list should be 

 planted from the middle of April to the middle of May, in 

 drills about two feet apart, and covered to the proper depth ; 

 about twice the diameter of the seed. 



WHITE ASH (Fraxinus Americana^).— Requires a moist, 

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

 special 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 fork and rake 

 handles, and many other agricultural implements, besides 

 being largely employed in carriage building, cooperage and 

 ornamental carpenter work Succeeds best from seeds, 

 which should be planted like corn, where the trees are to 

 stand, but not over an inch in depth. When grown singly it 

 is very ornamental, forming a large, round head. 



EUROPEAN ASH (Fraxinus excelsior).— Succeeds best 

 in rather a warm climate; thrives upon the plains in deep 

 soils, but does poorly on stiff clay or light, sandy soils. Its 

 timber is valuable in carriage making and manufactures 



BEECH (Fagus ferruginea).— Although not a very rapid 

 growing tree, this makes one of the best for the lawn or 

 park. The seeds should be sown as early as possible in the 

 spring, in fine mellow soil pressed firmly over them. They 

 germinate quickly and the young plants are quite hardy. 

 They should be early transplanted to nursery rows and 

 given plenty of room. 



WHITE BIRCH (Betida alba).— Valuable for orna 

 mental planting, and a favorite wood for shoe pegs, spools, 

 bobbins, and similar small articles. The birch prefers a 

 cool, humid climate, and is readily propagated from seed 

 Seeds thrive best on new ground. They scarcely admit of 

 any covering, but if simply pressed into the ground with the 

 feet they will grow. When one year old transplant into 

 nursery rows. When two or three feet high set out the 

 young trees where they are to remain. 



BOX ELDER, OR ASH LEAVED MAPLE (Acer 

 negundo).— This seems to succeed as well as any in the 

 Northwest. The trees are said to reach a diameter of seven 

 inches in six years, and to be exceedingly hardy not only to 

 resist cold but drought and dry winds, and suffering less 

 from insects than any other. One of the most desirable sorts 

 for planting on timber claims. 



HARDY CATALPA (Catalpa spec iosa).— Quite distinct 

 from and much hardier than the common catalpa. Scarcely 

 a tree on our list can be so strongly recommended as this for 

 planting on the vast treeless prairies of our Western States. 

 It is of very quick growth, has proven itself hardy as far 

 north as Dakota, and is one of the most durable timbers 

 known, lasting in many well authenticated instances nearly 

 or quite a century. 



Catalpa seeds can be sown dry on a still day, but the better 

 way is to wet the seeds for a few hours before planting, and 

 mix them with a little sifted soil to prevent their sticking 

 together. They will germinate more promptly for the soak 

 ing they have received, and will not be so likely to be blown 

 away while being sown. Sow in April or May, in well pre- 

 pared loamy soil, in rows four feet apart, sowing seed thickly 

 in the rows, covering half an inch deep and firming the soil 

 well over the seeds. Thick sowing is desirable, as a do/en 

 little plants together can force their way through the surface 

 easier than singly, and if they are too thick they can be 

 thinned and transplanted on a damp day as easily as cab- 

 bage plants. Cultivate well during the summer, keeping 

 them free from weeds. In the fall or following spring the 

 seedlings can be transplanted where they are to remain. 

 Four feet apart each way is the proper distance, and they 

 should be cultivated about like com for two seasons There 

 are from 1(5,000 to 80,000 seeds to the pound. As an orna- 

 mental tree the Catalpa appears to the best advantage 

 planted in small groves. 



EUROPEAN LARCH (Lari.v Europaa) Crows to a 

 large size, anil makes excellent timber. Planted on lands of 

 very little value for ordinary farming, it improves instead of 

 impoverishing them, as the annual crop of leaves deposits 



