D. M. FERRY <5: CO’S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
49 
FRUIT TREE SEEDS. 
APPLE.-Apple seeds do not produce the same varieties, 
but generally give a hardy, though inferior sort, and upon 
these seedlings are grafted or budded the finer varieties. The 
seecte may be planted in the fall, in rows two feet apart, or 
they may be planted in early spring, but in that case the seed 
must first be mixed with damn saud and frozen, after which 
care must be taken that they do not become dry before plant¬ 
ing. As soon as the plants are up, they should be well culti¬ 
vated, and every effort made to secure a vigorous growth the 
first season. As soon as the plants are large enough they may 
be budded in the summer or grafted in the spring. 
CHERRY, MAZZARD. This is the stock used for stand¬ 
ard trees. Success is much more certain if the seed is planted 
in the fall, as it is very difficult to keep it in good condition 
through winter. The general culture should be the same as 
for the apple, except that budding should be employed instead 
of grafting. 
CHERRY, MAHALEB. — Used as stocks when dwarf 
trees are wanted. Culture same as the above. 
PEAK.—Success will depend very largely upon having a 
deep , rich , moist soil , as this is essential to vigorous growth. 
Plant and cultivate like the apple, and bud when large enough. 
Every effort should be made to secure a rapid and vigorous 
growth from the first. 
PEACH.— Plant three inches deep in nursery rows three 
feet apart, in the fall, or if delayed until spring, crack the 
pits and plant the kernels only. They should be large enough 
to bud the first season, and may be profitably set in orchards 
two years from planting. 
PLUM.— The directions given for planting apples will also 
apply to plums, except the pits should be planted further 
apart in the row. The varieties raised from seed will be hardy, 
vigorous stalks upon which to graft the choicer sorts. 
QUINCE.— Quinces generally produce the same variety 
from seed, but occasionally vary. The general culture and 
requirements of soil are the same as for the pear, except that 
they are not budded. 
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FOREST TREE AND 
HEDGE SEEDS. 
Few investments made by our farmers will return a larger 
profit in the course of a few years than the planting of land 
now uncultivated, or cultivated at a loss, to forest trees. The 
time is coming, not only surely, but rapidly, when a few acres 
covered with our best forest trees will be of great value. 
EVERGltEEX 
TREE SEEDS. 
The seeds of evergreen trees should be kept till time of sow¬ 
ing in a dry, cool place. As early in spring as the ground 
can be worked, the seeds should be sown thinly in beds of fine, 
sandy loam, raised about four inches above the general sur¬ 
face. The seeds can be raked in, or. if very small, they may 
lie upon the surface and then be rolled in or patted with the 
back of the spade to firm the earth around the seeds. Then 
water very sparingly, and with a fine spray. The young plants 
are very apt to damp off, and need to be shaded from the hot 
sun and drying winds. A good shade can be made of laths 
nailed two inches apart to a light frame. This should be sup-' 
ported about eight inches above the seed bed in such a way as 
to be easily removed to allow cultivation ami weeding. Do 
not allow the youug plants to become choked with weeds, and 
.let them remain one or two years before transplanting to 
permanent ground. 
AMERICAN ARROR VIT.E ( Thuja accident alls). — 
Seldom over thirty feet high. Grows well under cultivation, 
and is one of the best for a hedge, as a screen and wind break. 
•It is best grown from seeds, which should be sown and the 
seedlings transplanted as directed above. 
SILVER FIR {Abies pectinata ).— An important timber 
tree, and grows to a large size. When young the trees are 
tender and easily injured by frost, but as they grow larger 
are entirely hardy. 
HEMLOCK ( Tsuqa Canadensis). —One of the most beau¬ 
tiful of our native evergreen trees. Of graceful habit with 
graceful and delicate foliage. The bark is- used to an im¬ 
mense extent for tanning leather. It requires a light, dry 
aoil. 
SCOTCH PINE (Pinus sylvestris ').— Very hardy, and 
growing surely and rapidly oil nearly every variety of soil, 
forming a beautiful tree, and invaluable as a wind break. 
WHITE OR WEYMOUTH PINE (Pinus strobus).— 
The most majestic and valuable of all our native pines, and 
has furnished immense quantities of the white pine lumber 
so well known throughout the country. It thrives best in a 
light sand with clay subsoil, and prefers plains and broad 
river valleys to higher lands. 
NORWAY SPRUCE (Abies excelsa ).— Well known as 
one of our most beautiful evergreen trees. It is hardy, of 
4 
rapid growth, and forms a dense, close screen, or hedge. 
About 20,000 seeds to the pound. 
DEC1D VO US TREE SEEDS. 
With the seeds of deciduous trees a little care only is re¬ 
quired in sowing at the proper season to insure success. 
Those with hard shells like the locusts should be planted in 
the fall or placed in boxes with sand and exposed to frost 
before planting, otherwise they may lie in the ground from 
one to three years without sprouting. If too late in spring to 
expose them to the action of frost, pour boiling water 
over the seeds and let it stand till cool, when a portion of the 
seeds will have swollen: pick these out and scald the rest 
i again, continuing till all have swollen. 
The seeds of the other deciduous trees on our list should be 
planted from the middle of April to the middle of May, in 
drills about two feet apart, and covered to the proper depth; 
about twice the diameter of the seed. 
WHITE ASH (Fraxinus Am ericand).— Requires a moist, 
deep soil, on which it will grow very rapidly. It deserves 
special attention from those who wish to grow trees for tim¬ 
ber. Succeeds best from seeds, which should be planted like 
i corn, where the trees are to stand, but not over an inch in 
i depth. When grown singly it is very ornamental, forming a 
large, round head. 
EUROPEAN ASH (Fraxinus excelsior '). Succeeds best 
in rather a warm climate: thrives upon the plains in deep 
soils, but does poorly on stiff clay or light, sandy soils. Its 
timber is valuable in carriage making and manufactures. 
WHITE BIRCH (Retain 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. 
BOX ELDER, OR ASH LEAVED MAPLE (Acer 
negundo ).—This seems to succeed as well as any in the North¬ 
west. The trees are said to reach a diameter of seven inches 
in six years, and to be exceedingly hardy not only to resist 
cold but drought and dry winds, and suffering less from 
insects than any other. One of the most desirable sorts for 
: planting on timber claims. 
HARDY CATALPA (Catalpa speciosa ).— Scarcely a tree 
on our list can be so strongly recommended as this for plant¬ 
ing on the treeless prairies of our Western States. It is of 
quick growth, has proven itself hardy as far north as Dakota, 
and is one of the most durable timbers known. 
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 prevent their sticking 
together. They will germinate more promptly for the soak¬ 
ing they have received, and will not be so likely to be blown 
away while being sown. Sow in April or May, in well pre¬ 
pared loamy soil, in rows four feet apart, sowing seed thickly 
m 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. Tliev should 
be cultivated about like corn for two seasons. There are 
from 16,000 to 20,000 seeds to the pound. 
EUROPEAN LARCH {Larix Europced ).—Grows to a 
large size and makes excellent timber. Seeds should be sown 
in a half shady situation. 
EUROPEAN LINDEN (Tilia Europced). — A great favor 
ite for ornamental 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 account 
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 does 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 and 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 (Robinia pseudo-acacia).— This tree 
grows so rapidly that railroad ties may be cut from it 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 con¬ 
tains about 1,300 seeds. 
WHITE MULBERRY (Morus alba ).—Desirable for feed 
ing silkworms. 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. 
