48 
D. M. Ferry & Co’S Descriptive Catalogue. 
in deep soils, but does poorly on stiff clay or light sandy 
soils. Its timber is valuable in carriage making and 
manufactures. 
White Birch (Betula alba ).—Valuable for orna¬ 
mental planting, and a favorite wood for shoe pegs, 
spools* bobbins and similar small articles. The birch 
prefers a cool, humid climate, and is readily propagated 
from seed. Seeds thrive best on new ground. They 
scarcely admit of any covering but if simply pressed 
into the ground with the feet they will grow. When 
one year old transplant into nursery rows. When two 
or three feet high, set out the young trees where they 
are to remain. 
Hardy Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa ).—Quite distinct 
from and much hardier than, the common catalpa. 
Scarcely a tree on our list can be so strongly recom¬ 
mended as this for planting on the vast treeless prairies 
of our Western States. It is of very quick growth, has 
proven itself hardy as far north as Dakota, and is one of 
the most durable timbers known, lasting in many well 
authenticated instances nearly or quite a century. 
Catalpa seeds can be sown dry on a still day but the 
better way is to wet the seeds for a few hours before 
planting, and mix them with a little sifted soil to pre¬ 
vent their sticking together. They will germinate more 
promptly for the soaking they have received, and will 
not be so likely to be blown away while being sown. 
Sow in April or May, in well prepared loamy soil, in 
rows four feet apart, sowing seed thickly in the rows, 
covering half an inch deep and firming the soil well 
over the seeds. Thick sowing is desirable, as a dozen 
little plants together can force their way through the 
surface easier than singly, and if they are too thick 
they can be thinned and transplanted on a damp day as 
easily as cabbage plants. Cultivate well during the 
summer, keeping them free from weeds. In the fall or 
following spring, the seedlings can be transplanted 
where they are to remain. Four feet apart each way 
is the proper distance, and they should be cultivated 
about like corn for two seasons. There are from 16,000 
to 20,000 seeds to the pound. 
As an ornamental tree, the catalpa appears to the best 
advantage planted in small groves. 
Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha ).-Seldom grows 
over twenty feet high and makes an excellent hedge. 
Seed should usually be sown in the fall, or frozen before 
planting, as recommended above. Sometimes they re¬ 
main in the ground two years before they germinate. 
European Larch (Larix Europcea ).—Grows to a 
large size, and makes excellent timber. Planted on 
lands of very little value for ordinary farming, it im¬ 
proves instead of impoverishing them, as the annual 
crop of leaves deposit more nutriment than the tree 
takes up ; besides the yield of timber in a series of years 
would prove a very profitable investment. Seeds should 
be sown in a half-shady situatioa. 
European Linden ( Tilia Europcea ).—A great fa¬ 
vorite for ornameutal planting in Europe. Its wood is 
very white, light, not liable to crack, and much prized 
for cabinet work and the panels of carriages. It should 
be planted by all bee keepers, as no flower of its size 
yields better honey or in greater abundance. 
Honey Locust (Gleditschia triacanthos ).—On ac¬ 
count of its rapidity of growth and durability of the 
timber, we regard this as one of the most valuable of ' 
our native trees. It is not so liable to injury by the 
borer as the common locust, and docs not sprout from 
the root to a greater extent than do most of our forest 
trees. Without the preparation recommended above, 
the seeds may lie from one to three years in the ground 
without sprouting. Take up aud heel in or cover the 
plants in the fall, and set out the next spring. After 
the first season, they are perfectly hardy. One pound 
contains about 2,300 seeds. 
Yellow Locust {Rob ini a pseudo-acacia ).—This tree 
grows so rapidly that railroad ties may be cut ten years 
from the planting of the seed, while the durability of 
its timber is well known, fence posts of it having stood 
for sixty years. Culture same as the above. One 
ounce contains about 1,300 seeds. 
White Mulberry (mortis alba). — Desirable for 
feeding silk worms. Grows readily and rapidly from 
seeds, which should not be covered too deep, as they 
are quite small. It delights in a warm, dry soil, and 
will succeed in almost any place that will produce a 
good corn crop. 
Russian Mulberry.—Introduced into this country 
by the Mennonites, and by them extensively planted 
for silk worm culture. Of rapid growth, resembling 
the apple tree in habit, with a greyish bark and droop¬ 
ing branches. It is very easily cultivated, and kept in 
dwarf form makes a fine hedge and wind break. It 
bears very young, and it is said, every year. The fruit 
is similar to the blackberry, varying in flavor from sub¬ 
acid to sweet. In cold regions especially, this should 
prove a very valuable variety for its timber, shade and 
fruit. It is said to reproduce itself exactly from seed, 
and as our seed is direct from the Mennonite colony, it 
can be depended on as true and reliable. 
Osage Orange (Maclura aurantiaca ).—How to 
Plant, Cultivate and Make a Hedge. —The Osage 
Orange is a native of Texas, but can be grown and cul¬ 
tivated advantageously in most parts of the United 
States. The ground should be thoroughly pulverized 
by either plowing or spading, before the seed is planted. 
The surest way is to sprout the seed before planting, as 
it is very slow to germinate when put into the ground 
without being sprouted, sometimes taking r whole sea¬ 
son to come up, To sprout the seed, put into a vessel 
and cover with warm {not hot) water. Keep the vessel 
in a warm place, and change the water once a day. Let 
the seed soak about five or six days, after which pour off 
the water and cover the vessel with a cloth. Keep in a 
warm room and stir the seed occasionally. In about one 
week more they will begin to sprout, and are ready for 
planting. A pound of seed, if properly managed, will 
produce five thousand (5,000) plants. The seed should 
be sown in April or May, with twelve good seeds to the 
foot, in drills twenty inches apart. They should be 
kept free from weeds, as the young plants are very ten¬ 
der and delicate until they are from three to five inches 
high. They can be set out in permanent hedges the 
following spring, in rows, placing them six inches apart 
in the row, but should be cut back to within an inch of 
the ground before they are set out; and to make a thick 
hedge, it will be necessary to cut back the first three 
years’ growth, leaving only about eight inches of the 
season’s growth. This system must be pursued every 
season until the hedge isof the desired height and form, 
Under proper treatment, a good hedge that will turn all 
kinds of stock, can be grown from seed in from three to 
four years. 
CLOVER” SEEDS. 
There are no plants so valuable for fertilizers as the 
Clovers. They have the faculty of absorbing nitrogen 
from the air, and also of rendering available much of 
the inert plant food of the soil. Their long, powerful 
tap roots penetrate to a great depth, loosen the soil, 
admit air, and by their decay add immensely to the fer¬ 
tility of the soil. The seed may be sown in fall or 
spring ; which is the best season will depend upon local 
climate, and method of culture, but in the majority of 
