42 
t>. M. FERRY & CO’S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 
WINTER VA RIETIES. 
i *"'/**/' K- MARROW.—A variety developed 
oy selection from the Boston Marrow, but much earlier and 
the earliest of the winter varieties. Fruit small, of deep 
orange color netted with cream; shape similar to Boston 
Marrow; ilesh thick, deep yellow, of fine quality. 
IMPROVED AMERICAN TURBAN (ESSEX hybrid). 
rp developed by selection and crossing from the old American 
i urban and differing from it in being of a richer color, having 
a hard shell, and in its remarkable keeping qualities. It is of 
medium size, and the skin is a rich orange-red. Flesh deep 
rich colored, very thick and of excellent quality. 
BOSTON MARROW.—A fall and winter variety, very 
Popular; 1,1 the Boston market. Of oval form; skin thin, when 
ripe, bright orange mottled with light cream color; flesh rich 
salmon yellow, very dry. fine grained, and for sweetness and 
excellence unsurpassed, but not as dry as the Hubbard. We 
have an unusually good stock of this sort. 
vS unffo wnn. 
Boston Marrow. 
HUBBARD.— This is a superior variety, and the best 
/Printer squash known ; flesh bright orange yellow, fine grained, 
/very dry. sweet and rich flavored; keeps perfectly good 
throughout the winter; boils or bakes exceedingly dry and is 
esteemed by many to be as good baked as the sweet potato. 
‘We have taken tHe utmost pains with this sort and can recom¬ 
mend our stock as in all probability the best in the country, 
and think our customers can plant it in perfect confidence 
that every fruit will be a pure Hubbard. 
BUTMAN. — This is a cross between the Yokohama and 
Hubbard. The flesh is between a salmon and a lemon color 
It has all the qualities of a fii'st-class squash, being very dry* 
fine grained, and of excellent flavor. Size medium: color 
h/^ht^stone, distinctly striped and splashed with yellowish- 
(Z MARBLEHEAD.— This is unquestionably an excellent 
keeper, and is finer grained and drier than any soil we have 
seen. About the size of the Hubbard, with shell of bluish- 
bright orange flesh. Requires the whole season to 
CROOKNECK. — The most certain of any to 
a crop, its strong growing vines suffering less from 
than those of the other sorts. Color varying from 
lark green to clear yellow, frequently changing to the latter 
after being gathered. Flesh variable, affected by soil am 
grained and fine flavored, and\in I 
If preserved from cold add I 
variety is successfully grown in 
our extreme northern latitudes. It may be planted, as late as 
the 15th of June, aud will be ripe enough to manufacture in 
It is the earliest variety with which we are 
The beautiful, amber colored syrup it produces 
:o be superior in flavor to any other, and tor sugar 
it is unsurpassed. There are many varieties that can lx* 
profitably grown where the seasons are long, but this can lx? 
grown wherever Indian corn will mature. It is useless to 
plant cane seed before the weather is warm in spring. Three 
or four pouuds are required per acre. 
EARLY ORANGE.—An exceedingly valuable variety. 
Very large, of strong and vigorous habit, and does not fall 
down. Its yield is twenty-five per cent, in excess of the 
Early Amber. It has a very pleasant flavor. It is early, 
maturing only ten days later than the Early Amber. We 
recommend it highly to all desiring a superior cane, for all 
localities, excepting the extreme North. 
Marblehead 
Tin*different species of Helianthns are largely grown for 
the seed, which is very valuable for feed and for oil. Every¬ 
one who keeps poultry should use Sunflower seed liberally for 
feeding, as there is nothing more wholesome and nutritious, 
and which keeps hens in better condition for laying. Some 
species are much planted in the flower garden for ornament. 
LARGE RUSSIAN.— This variety has large heads having 
much more and larger seed than the common sort. Grows 
almost invariably to a single unbranched stalk. Sow the 
seed (5 to (> lbs. per acre), as soon as the ground is fit for corn 
in the North, later will do just as well South, in rows three 
and one-half feet apart and ten inches in the row. Cultivate 
same as for corn. In the autumn, after the first hard frosts, 
cut the heads off the stems with a corn knife and pile loosely 
in a rail pen with a solid floor, or in a corn crib. After curing 
sufficiently so that they will thresh easily, Hail out or run 
through a threshing machine. Let the seed remain in the 
chaff until danger from heating is past, then clean with an 
ordinary fanning mill. This variety will yield 900 to 1,200 
pounds of seed per acre ordinarily. 
For ornamental varieties see Flower Seeds. 
Zfiefa3A.CCO. 
Tobacco is an annual plant, and although it grows to greater 
size in the South, an equally good quality can be produced in 
the hot, dry summers of the North. We have taken a great 
deal of paiiis to ascertain which are the best varieties for the 
general planter, and believe the list we offer contains all that 
are of special merit. 
Culture. — The seed should be sown as early as possible 
after danger of frost is over. A good plan is to* burn a quan¬ 
tity of brush and rubbish in the spring, on the ground intended 
for the seed bed. then dig and thoroughly pulverize the earth 
and mix with the ashes, after which the seed may be sown 
and covered very lightly. When the plants are about six 
inches high, transplant into rows four or five feet apart each 
way, and cultivate thoroughly with plow and hoe. 
STERLING.— The newest and brightestof the yellow type; 
and being the earliest to ripen, is surest in localities liable to 
early frosts. 
LACKS.—Broad leaf, tough, fine fibre. On gray soils 
cures bright and elastic; on dark soils, rich ana gummy. 
Known as Jesup or Beat All in some localities. Good and reli¬ 
able. 
HESTER.— A new variety, originated in Granville county, 
N. C. Has no superior for the yellow type, and makes fine 
cigar stock. It has size, shape, texture and color, aud ripens 
early. It recommends itself greatly in this, that it has greater 
adaptability over a wider range of soils and latitude than auy 
other of the yellow varieties, and may, on this score, be con¬ 
sidered the surest. 
