52 
D. M. Ferry & Cos Descriptive Catalogue. 
of the yield, and repeated the test for four years; when 
one found that the Clawson had out-yielded all the 
others by an average of four bushels per acre, while the 
other found that on his farm the_Diehl out-yielded not 
only the Clawson but the other varieties by nearly three 
bushels per acre. 
From these and manyotheV observations we feel con¬ 
fident that on at least one-fourth of the farms of this 
country where winter wheat is sowed, a change in the 
Michigan Bronze. Martin’s Amber. 
variety used would increase not only the yield but also 
the certainty of the crop. In order to do our part in 
this good work, we have for the past four years traveled 
many miles in order to examine carefully, in the Jield y 
the newer sorts of wheat and compare them with oldei 
kinds. We have also visited many of the experimental 
stations and have tested the different sorts on our trial 
grounds, and as a result have selected the following as 
offering in connection with the universally grown Claw¬ 
son, a list, some one of which is especially adapted to 
nearly every soil and climate where winter wheat can be 
grown at all. We earnestly recommend every wheat 
grower to test these varieties on his own farm. 
Michigan Bronze (Mediterranean Hybrid , or 
Diehl Mediterranean ),—We visited a field of this va¬ 
riety grown by the originator in 1882, and were so 
pleased with it that we were tempted to purchase the 
entire stock, but finally decided that in spite of evi¬ 
dent hardiness and productiveness,we would not assume 
the responsibility of introducing until we had seen it 
i more thoroughly tested under a variety of conditions. 
In the summer of 1883 we visited many fields of it and 
saw it under a great variety of conditions of soil and 
culture, and uniformly it seemed hardier, yielded bet¬ 
ter, and the grain was of better quality than any sort 
with which it was compared. On our own grounds and 
those of the “ Rural New Yorker ” it was tested by the 
side of over forty different varieties, and found the most 
desirable of all. Every farmer who had grown it was 
anxious to secure seed, and that season we placed it in 
the hands of several hundred growers, and waited some¬ 
what anxiously to see what the report of 1884 would be 
We have heard from many of those who planted it last 
season, and it has received universal praise as the hardi¬ 
est and best wheat they know of. We can with confi¬ 
dence then, recommend this variety as not only the 
hardiest in cultivation, but the most productive, and of 
the best milling quality, and we strongly urge every 
farmer to secure some for this season’s planting, as it is 
certain that it will command an extra price for seed grain 
for some years. 
It is a cross between the old Diehl and the Red Medi¬ 
terranean, having the fine flouring quality and bearded 
head of the latter, with the productiveness, hardiness, 
and close compact head of the former. It is a vigorous 
grower,well adapted to light soils, stands four feet high, 
and is of good stooling habit. The straw is rather large 
at the base, but small and stiff below the head, and turns 
red or bronze at maturity. The leaves are large and 
very dark green, heads slightly bearded, short but very 
compact and squarely filled out at both ends, containing 
about sixteen breasts of from three to four kernels each. 
| The berry is of a bright amber color, of medium size and 
very handsome. Millers universally pronounce it the 
best milling wheat known, excelling in this respect the 
old Red Mediterranean. 
Valley.—On very rich soils and for those who prefer 
a little later wheat with a longer and more showy head, 
the Valley will prove one of the best sorts. It originated 
in Ohio, and although it has not been extensively ad¬ 
vertised, is one of the most promising of the newer va¬ 
rieties, and under favorable circumstances, will give 
enormous yields, but needs rich ground and good culti¬ 
vation. It stands from four to four and a half feet high. 
The straw is of medium size, standing up and stooling 
out well. The heads arc bearded, long and loose, and 
of a peculiar rough or ragged appearance, and contain 
from sixteen to twenty breasts of three or four kernels 
each. The berry is amber, long and hard. 
Martin’s Amber.—Some farmers will not plant a 
bearded wheat no matter what its other qualities are. 
and for such and those who demand a large handsome 
