56 
/>. M. FERRY <£• CO’S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
Marblehead. 
Mediterranean.—A new variety and quite distinct, 
being nearly round in shape, with smooth skin of a 
salmon-red color. Flesh very thick; in many samples 
the seed cavity is so small that the squash seems to be 
solid. Quality very dry and sweet, and excellent for 
pies, having a peculiar, rich color. It is also one of the 
best keepers. Recommended for trial. 
Winter Crookneck. — The most certain of any to 
produce a crop, the strong growing vines suffering less 
from insects than those of the other sorts. Color vary¬ 
ing from dark green to clear yellow, frequently chang- 
Winter Crookneck. 
ing to the latter after being gathered. Flesh variable, 
affected by soil and weather, sometimes close grained 
and fine flavored, and in other cases coarse and stringy. 
If kept from cold and damp, they will keep the entire 
year. 
SUGHR CHNE. 
The recent successful experiments conducted by the 
U. S. Government at Fort Scott, Kansas, have demon¬ 
strated the feasibility of producing at a low cost the 
finest qualities of sugar from sorghum canes, making it 
certain that the sugar crop is going to be one of the 
most important ones in all the central Western States, 
and we recommend all farmers to experiment with it so 
as to be able to grow it profitably. 
Early Amber.—This comparatively new variety is 
now being successfully grown in our extreme northern 
latitudes. It may be planted as late as the 15th of June, 
and will be ripe enough to manufacture in September. 
It is the earliest variety with which we are acquainted. 
The beautiful, amber colored syrup it produces is 
thought to be superior in flavor to any other, and for 
sugar it is unsurpassed. There are many varieties that 
can be profitably grown where the seasons arc long, but 
this can be grown wherever Indian corn will grow. It 
is useless to plant cane seed before the weather is warm 
in spring. Three or four pounds are*required per acre. 
Early Orange.—An exceedingly valuable 
variety. Very large, of strong and vigorous 
habit, and does not fall down. Its yield is 
twenty-five per cent, in excess of the Early 
Amber. It has a very pleasant flavor. It is 
early, maturing only ten days later than the 
Early Amber. We recommend it highly to alL 
desiring a superior cane, for all localities, ex¬ 
cepting the extreme North. 
SUNFLOWER. 
Large Russian. — Helianthus . — The Sun¬ 
flower, during the past few years, has attracted 
considerable attention as a profitable field crop, 
its leaves being used for forage and its seeds as 
food for poultry and the manufacture of oil. It 
isaiso planted with satisfactory results on low, swampy 
grounds, to absorb miasma. This variety has larger 
heads and stalks, more seed, and is much more valuable 
than the common sort. 
TOBACCO. 
Tobacco is an annual plant, and although it grows to 
greater size in the South, an equally good quality can be 
produced in the hot, dry summers of the North. 
Culture. — The seed should be sown as early as pos¬ 
sible after the danger of frost is over. A good plan is 
to burn a quantity of brush and rubbish in the spring, 
on the ground intended for the seed bed, then dig and 
thoroughly pulverize the earth and mix with the ashes, 
after which the seed may be sown and covered very 
lightly. When the plants are about six inches high, 
transplant into rows four to five feet apart each way, 
and cultivate thoroughly with plow and hoe. 
Connecticut Seed Leaf.—Best adapted to the cli¬ 
mate of the Middle and Northern States, as it is more 
hardy and endures the cold better than the tender vari¬ 
eties grown South. In many of the Northern States 
and in Canada, this variety is a staple crop. 
Havana. — From pure Cuban grown seed, raised in 
the famous district of Vuelta de Abajo. When grown 
in this country commands a high price for cigar stock. 
TOMHTO. 
Fr Pontine d'Amour. Ger., Liebesapfel. 
This vegetable is too well known to need any descrip¬ 
tion. There has been a great improvement in it during 
the last few years, and the varieties now offered are 
greatly superior to those known a few years ago. 
Culture. —Tomatoes do best on light, warm, not over¬ 
rich soil, and success depends upon securing a rapid, 
vigorous, unchecked growth during the early part of the 
season. Sow in hot-beds during March, or from six to 
eight weeks before they can be set out of doors; when 
the, plants have four leaves, transplant into shallow 
boxes, setting them four or five inches apart; give 
plenty of air, and endeavor to secure a vigorous, but 
steady and healthy growth, so that at the time of setting 
in the open ground they will be strong and stocky, about 
as broad as high. A slight check while the plants are 
small, will materially diminish their productiveness. 
Set out of doors as soon as danger from severe frosts is 
over, but before doing so harden off the plants by gradu¬ 
ally exposing them to the night air and by the withdrawal 
of water until the wood becomes hard and the leaves 
thick and of a dark green color. Transplant carefully, 
and cultivate well as long as the vines will permit. The 
fruit is improved in quality if the vines are tied to a 
trellis or to stakes. 
