08 
l>. M. EEItRY <€ fJO’S DESCRIPTIVE CA TALOGUE. 
difference in the different varieties of seed wheat to 
warrant the paying of an extra price for a variety, even 
if it was decidedly superior, and better suited to their 
soils, but the Missouri Agricultural College, in a test of 
thirty-eight varieties extending through three seasons, 
found the average yield of all the sorts was twenty-nine 
and three-fourths bushels, that of the poorest variety for 
the three years, twenty-two and one-fourth bushels, 
while that of the highest was thirty-eight bushels. 
Now, if a farmer could make a profit of five dollars per 
acre, when wheat was eighty cents per bushel, in grow¬ 
ing the average variety, he would realize a profit of nine 
dollars per acre by purchasing and sowing the best sort, 
even if he had to pay double the price for the seed, and 
he would lose ninety cents per acre in growing the 
poorest sort, even if the seed cost him nothing. VVe 
could quote many similar experiments made at the 
various Experimental Stations and by private growers, 
showing the same thing, so we feel that we are doing 
our customers a kindness in urging them carefully to 
study and experiment with the new and superior seed 
grains we offer. 
Michigan Bronze (. Mediterranean Hybrid , or 
Diehl Mediterranean ).—We are gratified with our suc¬ 
cess in introducing this wheat, and in the uniformly 
favorable reports which come to us in regard to it. It 
certainly seems to be the farmers’ wheat, and we believe 
it the most profitable sort in cultivation. It 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 pro¬ 
ductiveness of the Mediterranean, and the grain cannot 
be equalled 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 sized and handsome. We 
recommend this variety as the surest and best for 
ordinary farms and conditions. 
Saskatchewan Fife Spring Wheat. This seed 
we offer is very pure and free from mixture, and we 
think that this variety is not only the hardiest and 
most productive, but that it is the best milling spring 
wheat grown, and recommend it on account of its vigor 
of growth, earliness, productiveness, and its purity. 
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. Unless intended for seed, it 
should be cut before fully ripe, as it is then heavier, of 
better quality and less liable to shell. The land should 
always be rolled immediately after sowing; or perhaps a 
better method is to roll the ground when the plants are 
one or two inches high. The quantity of seed sown per 
acre is about two and a half bushels, sown broadcast. 
The weight per bushel is forty-eight pounds, though it 
is almost always sold by the one hundred pounds. The 
product is from forty to sixty bushels per acre, accord¬ 
ing to cultivation. 
Barley, Hulless. —There are several varieties of 
Barley in which the grain shells out of the chaff like 
Wheat. One variety is also beardless, but our expe¬ 
rience with it is that it is a very unreliable cropper. 
That we offer has a smaller grain, but yields about as 
well as the Common Barley, and is the sort so 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 last of September. One plow¬ 
ing is given, a.id the seed sown broadcast at the rate of 
one and a half bushels per acre, and dragged in. Har¬ 
rowing and rolling in the spring are recommended. If 
cut before fully ripe, the grain makes more and better 
flour. If intended for seed, it should be fully ripe. 
Sow some rye among standing corn, hoeing it in, 
leaving the ground level as possible, and after the corn 
is removed, rolling the ground. It succeeds best on 
sandy soils. 
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. 
Buckwheat, 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. 
Buckwheat, Silver Hull. —This improved variety 
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. The flour is said 
to be better and more nutritious. 
Buckwheat, European Silver Hull.— This is a 
recent introduction and seems to be a distinct improve¬ 
ment on the common Silver Hull. Not quite so rank in 
growth, but a sure cropper, and the berry although 
shorter is very plump, and gives a large proportion of 
flour of excellent quality. 
Field Peas {Pisum sativum). — The varieties of field 
peas have never been very numerous, nor are they much 
increasing. The kinds mostly used are the Golden 
Vine, Blue Prussian, Common White and Common 
Blue. 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 to a con¬ 
siderable extent in Canada, for stock, but not much 
used in the States. Culture same as Field Peas, two 
bushels per acre. 
Flax (JLinum 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, bound 
and secured from the weather; thrash early in the fall 
and in dry weather. 
Hemp ( Cannabis sativa ).—If raised for manufac¬ 
turing, must be sown broadcast, at the rate of one-half 
bushel to the acre; if for seed, should be planted in hills 
four feet apart, and the plants thinned out to three or 
four most vigorous stems in each hill. 
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BIRD SEEDS. 
Canary Seed ( P/ialaris canariensis). 
Hemp Seed {Cannabis salizui). 
Maw {Palaver rheras'). 
Millet Seed ( Panicum miliaceum). 
Rape Seed (Brassica na/>us). 
Lettuce Seed (. Lactuca sativa ). 
