39 
D. M . Ferry &, Co s Descriptive Catalogue. 
never allowed to exhaust itself by running to seed. Our 
seed is saved from selected plants of Linnajus, Giant and 
other improved sorts. Like the seeds of fruit trees, 
seed cannot be relied upon to reproduce the same variety. 
RICErWILD. 
Zizania aquatic a. 
An annual which sows itself in the fall, about middle 
of September, lies dormant all winter, in spring com¬ 
mences to sprout as soon as the water gets warm, reach¬ 
ing the surface during the first half of June. It grows 
very rapidly, in one to eight feet of water, ripens late in 
August or early in September. It should be planted in 
the fall, before ice forms, broadcast, from a boat, in two 
or three feet of water, having a mud bottom. It has 
been successfully planted through the ice in winter and 
in the spring, but it succeeds best when planted in the j 
fall. As an attraction for wild fowl, it cannot be equaled. | 
In large ponds and lakes it purifies the water, affords a i 
refuge for the small fry from the large fish, as well as ' 
furnishing the small fry plenty of food from the animal- | 
cula; upon its stalks ; for planting in fish ponds it is es- j 
. pecially desirable. It also does well along the shores of I 
marshes, and makes a good hay. At the south, two j 
crops can be cut, and all cattle are very fond of it. 
ROQUETTE. 
An annual pljint, of which the leaves are used as a 
salad 
Sow thinly in drills a foot apart as soon as spring 
opens. Watering often, when necessary, diminishes 
the tart taste of the leaves. This is objectionable only 
as the leaves become old ; they should be used while 
young. • 
Salsify, or Vegetable Oyster, 
Fr. Salsi/is. —Ger. Uajer-iuurzel. 
The long, white, tapering root of Salsify resembles a 
small parsnip, and when cooked, is a good substitute for 
oysters, having a very similar flavor. 
Culture.— It succeeds best in a light, well enriched 
soil, which should be stirred to the depth of twelve or 
fourteen inches. If it is necessary to use manure, it 
should be very fine and well rotted, for if it is fresh and 
coarse, the roots will grow irregular and ill shaped. 
Sow early and quite deep,and give 
the general culture recommended 
for the parsnip. The roots are per¬ 
fectly hardy, and may remain out 
all winter, but should be dug 
early in the spring, as they de¬ 
teriorate rapidly after growth 
commences. Store a quantity for 
winter use in sand. 
SPINAGE. 
Fr. Epinard. —Ger. Sflinat. 
The Spinage is very hardy, ex¬ 
tremely wholesome and palatable, 
and makes a delicious dish of 
greens, retaining its bright 
green color after cooking. 
Culture. —Should be planted 
in very rich ground, the richer 
the better. Sow in drills one foot 
apart, and commence thinning 
out the plants when the leaves are 
an inch wide, and all should 
be cut before hot weather, or Salsify, 
it will be tough and stringy. For early spring use, 
the seed should be sown early in autumn, and every two 
weeks thereafter if a succession is desired. In the 
Northern States, the plants will require a slight protec¬ 
tion of leaves or straw, but in the Southern States, no 
protection is necessary, and they will continue their 
growth most of the winter. 
Round Sum¬ 
mer. — This va¬ 
riety is generally 
preferred for 
early sowing, 
and is the most 
popular with our 
market garden¬ 
ers ; leaves large, 
thick and fleshy; 
not quite so 
hardy as the 
Prickly, but 
stands the winter 
very well. 
Improved 
Thick Leaved _ . ^ 
Summer.-An Round Summer, 
improvement on the preceding, with larger and thicker 
leaves, and of more substance. Particularly recom¬ 
mended for market garden use. 
Long Standing (Late Seeding), —An improved strain 
of excellent merit, having all the good qualities of the 
ordinary sorts; 
what renders it 
especially desir¬ 
able is the fact 
that it is much 
later in going to 
seed than any 
other variety. 
This valuable 
property will be 
appreciated by 
market garden¬ 
ers. 
Prickly Win¬ 
ter.—The har- 
diest variety, 
and will with¬ 
stand the se- 
