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D. M. FERRY & CO’S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
51 
heads are closely condensed, though the spikes are very 
numerous. The seeds are contained in rough, bristly sheaths 
and are round, golden yellow and beautiful in appearance. 
, HUNGARIAN GRASS (Panicum Germanicum).—This 
is a species of millet, growing less rank, with smaller stalks, 
often yielding two or three tons of hay, per acre. It is very 
popular and valuable with those who are clearing timber 
lands. Like the millet, it is an annual. and requires to be 
sown every season, but will produce a larger return than 
almost any other crop. Sow and cultivate like millet. 
Forty-eight pounds per bushel. 
JOHNSON GRASS (Sorghum halapense).—This is a 
valuable forage plant. Itis perennial, a rapid grower. very 
nutritious; comes early in the spring, grows until the frosts 
cut it down in the fall, stands the drought better than any 
_ grass, having long, cane like roots which penetrate the soil for 
moisture. The best results follow sowing the seed in August 
and September, enabling the seed to get a good root by fall, 
and forming a better turf the following season. Sow with 
clean seed, broadcast, at the rate of one bushel per acre, and 
cover with a light brush, or sow just before a heavy rain. 
Three good crops the following season will be the result if the 
season is favorable. Sowing in the spring does well, but the 
crop would not be as heavy the first year. 
EXTRA FINE MIXED LAWN GRASS (Central 
Park Mixture).—The essentials for a fine lawn are proper 
drainage, a careful preparation of the soil, which should be 
made as fine and light on the surface as possible, thorough 
rolling, and a selection of the seeds of such grasses as will 
present a luxuriant verdure from early spring till late in 
autumn; and then, frequent mowings with a lawn mower. 
However much care is bestowed on the soil and seed, no lawn 
will be beautiful without frequent mowing and rolling. Too 
much care cannot be bestowed upon the selection 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 perfect, carpet like lawn. We 
have given much thought and made many experiments to 
-secure the best selection, and think our Central Park Mixture 
is the best possible for permanent lawns. It may be planted 
early in spring, or fall, and should besown atthe rate of from 
sixty to eighty pounds to the acre, much more being required 
than for hay or pasturage. If sown in the spring, sow as 
early as possible, making the surface very fine and smooth, 
then raking it over and sowing the seed just before a rain, 
which, if the surface has just been raked, will cover the seed 
sufficiently. If the expected rain does not come, cover by 
rolling with a light roller. If sown in the fall, sow before the 
autumn rains have ceased, and before very cold weather give 
the young grass a light dressing of manure. One pound of 
this mixture is sufficient to sow a space 30x 20 feet, or 600 
square feet. Kentucky Blue Grass in conjunction with White 
Clover, forms one of the finest and closest of lawns. For this 
purpose, use four bushels of Blue Grass and about six pounds 
of White Clover per acre. 
KK 
Wie. KYE, ETC. 
WHEAT, MICHIGAN BRONZE (Mediterranean Hy- 
brid, or Diehl Mediterranean).-This is a cross between the old 
Diehl and the Red Mediterranean, and the head is of the shape 
of the Diehl, but with short beards, while the plant retains the 
hardiness and productiveness of the Mediterranean, and the 
grain is very superior in milling qualities. The plants stool out 
well. The straw is of moderate length and size, but very stiff, 
and turns bronze at maturity; the berry is bright amber 
color, medium size and handsome. We recommend this 
variety as one of the surest and best for ordinary farms and 
conditions. 
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. Sow from two to two and one-half bushels per 
acre. Weight, forty-eight pounds per bushel. 
BARLEY, HULLESS.—There are several varieties of 
barley in which the grain shells out of the chaff like wheat. 
One variety is also beardless. That we offer has a smaller 
grain, but yields about as well as the Common Barley, and is 
the sort largely grown by Bohemians and others for making 
barley bread. 
RYE, FALL OR WINTER.—The time for sowing is 
from the middle of August to the last of September. Prepare 
the ground as for wheat and sow either broadcast, or with a 
drill at the rate of one and one-half bushels per acre. Asa 
crop to be used for late fall and early spring pasture this has 
no equal, and itis one of the best to turn under for green 
manure. 
RYE, SPRING.— Although this grain is often planted by 
farmers especially for the paper makers, who prefer it to any 
other, its principal value is as a ‘‘catch’’ crop, to sow where 
winter grain has failed. The straw is shorter and stiffer than 
that of the winter variety, and is always easily secured, while 
the grain, although smaller, is of equal value. 
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BUCK W HEAT, COMMON.— Buckwheat should be sown 
about the 20th of June, broadcast, at the rate of from one to 
three pecks per acre. The average yield is from twenty-five 
to thirty bushels per acre. It should be threshed as soon as 
dry, on the ground or barn floor. If allowed to stand in mass. 
it quickly gathers moisture. 
OF : 
G SS AVA: 
BUCKWHEAT, JAPANESE.—The plants are large and 
vigorous, maturing their seed early, and resisting drought and 
blight remarkably well, while the grain is much larger and at 
the same time hasathinner hull than the Common or the 
Silver Hull. We recommend this especially for well drained 
or sandy land, and the dry climate of the western plains. 
BUCKWHEAT, SILVER HULL.—This improved var- 
iety is much better than the old sort. It is in bloom longer, 
matures sooner, and yields double the quantity per acre. The 
husk is thinner, the corners less prominent, and the grain of a 
beautiful light gray color. 
FIELD PEAS (Pisum sativum).—The varieties of fieid 
peas have never been very numerous, nor are they much in- 
creasing. The kinds mostly used are the Golden Vine, Choice 
Blue, Common Blue, No. 1 White, and Common White. Field 
peas, in general, may be sown broadcast or in drills, after the 
manner of field beans, about three bushels per acre. 
SPRING VETCHES, OR TARES (Vica sativa).—A 
species of the pea, grown extensively in England, and toa 
considerable extent in Canada, for stock, but not much used 
in the States. Culture same as field peas, two bushels per 
acre. 
FLAX (Linum usitatissimum).—Sow late enough in the 
spring to avoid frost, and early enough to secure the early 
rains. A fair average quantity of seed to be sown on an acre 
is one-half, bushel, when cultivated for seed; if for the fibre a 
larger quantity should be sown. Cut before quite ripe, and, 
if the weather be dry, let it lie in the swath a few hours, when 
it should be raked and secured from the weather; thresh early 
in the fall and in dry weather. 
HEMP (Cannabis sativa).—If raised for manufacturing, 
must be sown broadeast, at the rate of one-half bushel to the 
acre; if for seed, it should be planted in hills four feet apart, 
and the plants thinned out to three or four most vigorous 
stems in each hill. 
KK 
BIRDe SEEDS: 
CANARY SEED (Phalaris canariensis). 
HEMP SEED (Ca»nabis sativa). 
MAW (Papaver rheas). 
MILLET SEED (Panicum miliaceunt). 
RAPE SEED (Brassica napus). 
LETTUCE SEED (Lactuca sativa). 
