14 
D. M. FERRY & CO’S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
BEANS 
No crop responds more readily than Beans to good soil and cultivation. A light, rich, well drained loam which was manured 
for the previous crop is the most desirable. If too rank manure is used it is apt to make the plant run too much to vine. 
Beans are very sensitive to both cold and wet and it is useless to plant them before the ground hr.s become dry and warm. 
The large returns will result from planting in drills from two to three feet apart. Cover the seed one and one-half to two inches 
deep and thin the young plants three to six inches apart in the row. If planted in hills, make the hills about two feet apart each 
way. For succession, plant at intervals of two weeks till midsummer. The plants up to the tune of blossoming should have fre¬ 
quent shallow cultivation, but any mutilation <>f the roots by cultivation after the plants come into bloom is likely to cause the 
blossoms to blast and so cut off the crop. Cultivation should always be very shallow and it is useless to expect a crop from a 
field so poorly prepared as to need deep stirring after planting. 
We give careful attention to selecting and improving the different varieties and keeping them pure and we invite the most 
critical comparison of our stocks with those of any other grower. 
The varieties of garden beans we offer have been separated for convenience into five groups: Wax Podded Dwarf or Bush 
sorts. Green Podded Dwarf or Bush sorts, Dwarf Limas. Pole or Running sorts and Pole Limas. Nearly all of these sorts, except 
the Limas, are suitable when young for use as snaps. The low growing sorts are called Bunch beans in some sections In north¬ 
ern latitudes the term “butter beans'’ is often applied to low growing wax podded sorts. In the south, however, by “butter beans ' 
is usually meant limas. 
DWARF OR BUSH—WAX PODDED SORTS 
ll r r>i i \\r Continued experience has satisfied us of the great merit of this variety as the earliest 
Challenge Llwarr Diack Wax wax podded bean. In all our many comparisons of this bean with other extra early 
sorts., we have found it the first to give a full picking of pods which were of very excellent quality. The plants although small, 
are compact and erect, bearing pods well up from the ground. The pods are an attractive medium yellow in color, medium 
sized, about four and one- 
fourth inches long, roundish 
oval, considerably curved, 
fleshy, crisp, tender and 
stringless. Seed jet black, 
longer and more curved than 
Prolific German Wax. We 
consider this the best first 
early wax bean for the home 
or market garden. Pkt. 10c; 
Pt. 35c; Qt. 55c; 4 Qts. $2.00; 
Bu. $11.00 
D. M. Ferry & Co*s 
Golden Wax S’^eT- 
liest and best dwarf sorts for 
the home market and pri¬ 
vate gardens. The plants 
are erect, compact, and very 
productive. The pods are of 
medium length, four and 
one-half to five inches,nearly 
straight, broad, flat, golden 
yellow, very fleshy and wax- 
like. The variety cooks 
quickly as snaps, shelling 
well when green, and is of 
superior quality used in 
either way. Seed medium 
sized, oval, white, more or 
less covered with two shades 
of purplish red. The amount 
and shade of color on this 
and all parti-colored beans 
will be affected greatly by 
conditions of soil and ripen¬ 
ing. This very extensively 
used sort was introduced by 
us in 187(3. We are convince ! 
by many careful tests that 
none of the so-called im¬ 
proved st rains is equal to the 
seed we offer of this standard 
variety Pkt. 10c; Pt. 35c; 
Qt. 60c; 4 Qts. $2.00; 
Bu. $12.00 
This splendid 
variety is one 
of the earli- 
snapbeans. It’if a white- Challenge Dwarf Black Wax 
seeded Golden Wax bean of the original Golden Wax quality. Michigan White Wax was introduced by us in 19C.. It is a 
vigorous and very productive garden variety. The pods are abundantly produced and are uniform in size and color which is 
a very attractive light golden yellow. They are four and one-half to five inches long, comparatively broad, meaty and of the same 
superior quality as our Golden Wax. Seed medium sized, oval, clear white. This last feature alone gives the variety an advantage 
over all other early wax podded beans in that as snaps they cook without discoloring and thus are more attractive on the table. 
It is a most desirable home garden, market and canning sort. Pkt. 10c; Pt. 35c; Qt. 60c; 4 Qts. $2.00; Bu. $12.00 
Michigan 
White Wax 
ll D . p r \\T The plants are a little more upright and hardier than our Golden Wax. The handsome 
L»renell IvllSt rroot W ax deep yellow pods are about five inches long, are broader and flatter than our Golden 
Wax but are slightly inferior in quality. Seed similar to our Golden Wax but darker. This variety is sometimes called an 
Improved Golden Wax and is popular with some gardeners. Pkt. 10c; Pt. 30c; Qt. 50c; 4 Qts. $1.75; Bu. $10.00 
p r m The stock we offer is very productive, early and of superior quality. The plants are very vigorous and 
rcerugee wax branching. The pods are four to five inches long, thick, fleshy, round, stringless and wax-like, being <»f 
a clear, light yellow color. Seed medium sized, cylindrical, rounded at ends, yellowish drab, heavily splashed with a bluish 
black. This is an extensively used sort for canning and is suitable also for the home garden and market. ( Sold out) 
y ry ,1 p 11 iit The plants of this very hardy and productive second early or intermediate sort 
rveeney S rvUStless Uolden W ax are strong, vigorous and have short runners, and rather small smooth leaves. 
The pods are about five inches long, oval-flat, stringless, light yellow, wax-like and handsome. Seed similar to a light colored 
Golden Wax. Pkt. 10c; Pt. 30c; Qt. 50c; 4 Qts. $1.75; Bu. $10.00 
If beans are ordered by mail or express prepaid add 10 rents per pint. 15 cents per quart for transportation and packing. 
