J. M. Thorburn & Co. 's Catalogue of Seeds. 



5i 



Cross-bred and Hybrid Wheats. 



Strong Stems— Hardy— Prolific. 



NOTICE. — None genuine unless purchased of us, as the entire product was sold to us by Mr. Carman. 



Three New Varieties. 



Mh. E. S. Cabman, the editor of Tfie Rural New Yorker, began his work of improving Wheats some sixteen 



years ago. The first step taken was to secure the leading 

 varieties of this and other countries and test them side by side 

 in small plots. After testing in this way some 200 so-called 

 varieties, that known as Armstrong, a beardless white-chaff 

 sort, with amber grains, was selected for the mother plant in 

 the proposed crossings then begun and since continued. They 

 were effected in a thoroughly scientific, painstaking way, that 

 has left no room for doubt as to the character of the results. 

 Hundreds of crosses have been made within the last sixteen 

 years. Most of them have, from time to time, been rejected as 

 of no greater value than the well-known kinds already in culti- 

 vation. The others have been retained, with the intention of in- 

 troducing them to the public as fast as they should become 

 fixed in character and give promise of excellence. 



The following three new varieties were introduced for the 

 first time last year : 



No. 1. By parentage, half wheat, half rye. Mother parent 

 Armstrong. Heads compact, symmetrical, pointed, beard- 

 ed; brown chaff. Three grains to a spikelet, eight spikelets 

 to a side. Kernels hard, reddish or dark amber. Straw 

 very strong and of medium height. As early as rye. 

 Thought to be very hardy. 

 No. 4. By parentage, half wheat, half rye. Mother plant 

 crossed progeny of Armstrong. Heads symmetrical and 

 absolutely beardless; brown chaff. Three grains to a 

 spikelet, eight and nine spikelets to a side. Dark amber 

 kernels. Stems very strong. Ripens with rye. 

 No. 52. Pure wheat cross, the original of which was Arm- 

 strong, crossed and re-crossed through several generations. 

 Heads symmetrical, broad; brown chaff, nearly beardless. 

 Medium to ripen. Light amber kernels, four to a breast ; 

 nine breasts to a side. The breasts are often double. 



Prices for Each Variety; Postage or Express 

 Charges Paid by Us: 



Per ounce $o 25 Per 1 lb $1 00 



Per % lb 50 Per 5 lbs 300 



Per y 2 lb 75 I 



Standard Varieties Introduced in 1889. 



The following five varieties were first introduced in 1889. 

 Since then, the reports on and orders for these wonderful 

 wheats which we have received from all parts of this country 

 and Europe indicate that their peculiar merits are recognized 

 and our expectations of them justified. 



Willits and Roberts are hybrids between rye and wheat, 

 though the rye blood does not manifest itself. They are. in ap- 

 pearance, pure wheats. The others are pure wheat crosses. 

 WILLITS (NO. 2). Half wheat, half rye by parentage, though re- 

 sembling wheat in all respects. Nearly as early to mature as rye. 

 Heads average over three inches long, eight breasts (or spikelets) to a 

 side. Chaff white, beardless. Often four grains to a breast, always three, 

 of medium size, amber color, and apparently hard. 10 cents per ounce, 

 30 cents per pound, $1.25 per 5 pounds. 

 ROBERTS (NO. 3). Half wheat, half rye by parentage, though resembling 

 wheat in all respects. Nearly as early as rye to ripen. Tall, yellow, 

 stiff straw. Heads average three inches long, seven breasts to a side. 

 The chaff is brown, bearded. Three grains to abreast, small to medium, 

 dark amber. 15 cents per ounce, 40 cents per pound, §1.75 per 5 pounds. 

 STEWART (No. 51). Pure wheat cross. Late. Heads very long, averag- 

 ing over four inches, nine breasts to a side; chaff brown, heavily 

 bearded. From three to four grains to a breast, medium size, amber 

 color. Stem tall and strong. 15 cents per ounce, 40 cents per pound, 

 $1.75 per 5 pounds. 



BEAL (No. 53). Pure wheat cross. Medium to mature. Heads average 

 nearly four inches. Breasts crowded — often ten to a side. Chaff very 

 clear and white, heavily bearded. Four grains to a spikelet— sometimes 

 five— fair size, amber color. Inclined to club-head. 10 cents per ounce, 

 30 cents per pound, $1.25 per 5 pounds. 

 JOHNSON (No. 55). Pure wheat cross. Medium to ripen. Heads average nearly four inches. Eight 

 breasts to a side. Chaff white, heavily bearded. Three to four grains to a breast, fair size, bright 

 amber color, hard. Regular heads. 15 cents per ounce, 40 cents per pound, $1.75 per 5 pounds. 



