07 
ately moist land, for which it is peculiarly adapted. 
Large quantities are raised in England, and nearly all of 
Europe. It is also largely used for lawns, in conjunc¬ 
tion with other grasses. One and a half to two bushels 
per acre, in the spring. Twenty pounds per bushel. 
Meadow Fescue,or English Blue Grass {Festuca 
pratensis ).— A perennial grass from two to four feet 
high, with flat, broad leaves. This is one of the stand¬ 
ard European grasses, and cattle are very fond of it, 
both green and dry. It needs rich ground, and it suc¬ 
ceeds well on prairie soil, and is an excellent pasture 
grass to take the place of the wild grasses, as it yields a 
large amount of early and late feed. It also makes ex¬ 
cellent hay, and is certainly worthy of more general 
cultivation. 
Wood Meadow Grass (Poa netnoralis ).—Grows 
from one and a half to two feet high; has a perennial 
creeping root, and an erect, slender, smooth stem. Its 
chief value is in that it will produce a good crop of hay 
in moist, shady situations, where it frequently grows 
quite tall. Cattle are for.d of it; it is succulent and nu¬ 
tritious, and is, perhaps, the best variety for sowing in 
orchards, under trees, and shaded situations, either for 
hay or pasturage, and for parks and pleasure grounds. 
About fourteen pounds per bushel. Two bushels per 
acre. 
Sweet Vernal Grass £Anthoxanthum odoratum'). 
—One of the earliest of grasses in spring, as well as the 
latest in autumn, and about the only grass that is fra¬ 
grant. As a pasture grass, mixed with other species, it 
is valuable on account of its earliness, and mixed with 
blue grass and white clover, it is an invaluable adjunct 
for lawns, presenting a beautiful appearance, and exhal¬ 
ing a delightful fragrance when in blossom. Should 
form a part of the mixed grasses in every lawn and door- 
yard. About ten pounds per bushel. 
Common Millet {Panicum viiliaceuui ). — Requires 
a dry, light, rich soil, and grows two and a half to four 
feet high, with a fine bulk of stalks and leaves, and is 
excellent for forage. For hay', sow broadcast, one-half 
bushel per acre, from May xst to August ist. For 
grain, sow in drills, one peck to the acre, and not later 
than June 20th. Fifty' pounds per bushel. 
German, or Golden Millet. — An improved variety', 
medium early, growing three to five feet high. The 
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. 
From close observation during the past few years, the 
fact has been established beyond doubt, that seed of the 
German, or Golden Millet, grown in southern latitudes 
will produce a much larger yield of hay' than from seed 
grown in northern or western sections of the country, 
and for that reason is far better for farmers to sow. We 
have a good stock of southern grown seed, and, know¬ 
ing its value, confidently recommend it. Bear in mind 
that to the farmer, southern grown seed is worth double 
that of northern or western grown. Northern and 
western grown seed is degenerated and hybridized with 
other millets. 
Johnson Grass C Sorghum /i a/ape use '). — This is one 
of the most valuable forage plants of recent introduction, 
and is already very popular in the Southern States. It 
is perennial, a rapid grower, very nutritious, being 
eagerly’ devoured by all kinds of stock ; 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 ; 
superior both as a grazing and hay grass; has abundance 
of roots which decay, thereby enriching the ground 
rather than exhausting it, as Timothy does; belonging 
to the Sorghum family, it contains much saccharine 
matter, which is an important factor in the food of 
stock. It will grow on any land where corn will grow. 
On lands that will produce a bale of cotton to the acre, 
four to six tons of hay can be cut per annum, cutting 
three and four times. Heavy fertilizing would produce 
greater results. 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 follow¬ 
ing 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. The seed we offer is of this 
season’s crop, and has been well recleaned. One bushel 
w'ill sow an acre. 
Hungarian Grass ( Pauietnn German icum). — 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 clear¬ 
ing 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 culti¬ 
vate like millet. Forty'-eight pounds per bushel. 
Extra Fine Mixed Lawn Grass (Central Park 
Mixture ).—The essentials for a fine lawn are proper 
drainage, a careful preparation of the soil, w’hich 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 vari¬ 
eties 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 mixture, and think our Central Park 
Mixture is the best possible mixture for permanent lawns, 
j resisting the severe droughts of our climate better than 
any other. It may be planted early' in spring, or fall, 
and should be sown at the 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 
i 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 y'oung grass a light 
dressing of manure. One pound of this mixture is suf¬ 
ficient to sow a space 30 x 20 feet, or 600 square feet, 
i Kentucky Blue Grass in conjunction with White Clover 
I 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. 
- ♦ - 
MISCELLANEOUS FKRM 
SEEDS. 
MICHIGAN WINTER WHEAT. 
One of the ways in which farmers allow the profits, 
which should come from their business, to slip through 
their fingers is in want of attention to the quality of their 
seed grain. Most farmers think that there is not enough 
D. M. FERRY A CO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
