46 
GRAND RAPIDS GROWERS, he., Grand Rapids, Michigan 
Dwarf Essex Rape. 
Certified Wolverine Oats 
Michigan grown. These oats are medium early, 
strong and vigorous growers, heavy yielders. The 
head is full and loose with the seeds evenly distrib¬ 
uted around the stem. The straw is of medium 
height and stiff enough so that they seldom lodge. 
The grain is large, white, rather blunt and very 
plump. This variety is grown more extensively in 
Michigan than any other because it has given such 
uniformly good yields. 
Dwarf Essex Rape 
Under favorable conditions Dwarf Essex Rape is 
ready for pasture in six weeks from the time of sow¬ 
ing. One acre of good rape will carry a flock of a 
dozen sheep for two months. Recent experiments 
have shown rape to be the means of producing pork 
at the lowest cost, even less than alfalfa. Rape is 
also the forage that can be sown with the least effort. 
Seeded in corn at the last cultivation to be hogged 
down, furnishes one of the greatest money-making 
methods known to the progressive farmer today. Sow 
rape in corn at the rate of 4 lbs. per acre. When 
the corn is harvested and cut, then turn the pigs 
into the field in the Fall. 
FIELD AND FARM SEEDS—Continued. 
Sand Vetch 
Sand or Hairy Vetch shares with Sweet Clover the 
honor of giving the best results in restoring fertility 
to wornout land or making poor, sandy soils produc¬ 
tive. Sand Vetch has no equal as a cover crop. It can 
be sown in the cornfield just after the last cultivation, 
and it will make a mass of green stalks and leaves to 
plow under about the middle of May; or it may be 
sown after harvesting oats and plowed for corn the 
next Spring. Hay. made from Sand Vetch is about 
three per cent higher in protein than Alfalfa hay, and 
is more eagerly eaten by stock. When sown with oats 
or any Spring grain, it will come on after crop is har¬ 
vested and make splendid Fall pasture, and can be 
plowed under the next Spring for corn or potatoes. 
Sow from 30 to 40 pounds per acre. 
Silverhull Buckwheat 
A standard variety, largely grown, and gives ex¬ 
cellent satisfaction. Unsurpassed as a catch crop 
when a late season has made it impossible to follow 
out your first plans or when other crops fail. Buck¬ 
wheat is a valuable crop for those parts of the 
farm which always seem to be left unplanted at the 
close of the season. It is generally sown in July and 
will fill up the vacant plots at a time when all other 
planting is past. Can be sown after a crop of Winter 
Wheat or Rye and make a second crop. Use one-half 
to three-quarters bushel of seed to an acre. 
Canadian Field Peas 
Valuable for northern climates for cattle feed and 
when sown with oats make an excellent hog feed. 
Should be sown early in April, two bushels to an acre. 
If sown with oats for hay and fodder sow 1% to 2 
bushels per acre. 
Farm Fertilizers 
Commercial fertilizers are those which are used for general farm purposes, and are composed of the three elements of plant 
food, namely Nitrogen, available Phosphoric acid and Potash K 2 0 and are mixed by the world's largest fertilizer manufac¬ 
turers in the proper proportions, so as to give your soil the proper available plant food to produce a maximum crop. We 
handle large quantities of the various analyses every year and will ask that you consult us and get the right fertilizer for 
your specific needs. Prices will be quoted upon application. 
NITRATE OF SODA. In its commercial form contains 
about 1514% of Nitrogen, equal to about 19%% of Ammonia. 
As the source of Nitrogen or Ammonia, in home mixed fer¬ 
tilizers Nitrate of Soda is the most desirable, particularly 
for all quick-growing crops, and when early maturity is de¬ 
sired, and when inclement weather is at hand, or frost. Ni¬ 
trate of Soda will give maturity before the frost really kills. 
SULPHATE OF AMMONIA. Used largely in orchards for 
practically all kinds of fruit; especially valuable for melons 
and tomatoes, which thrive better in a slightly acid soil. 
A form of nitrogen which is coming into general use with 
fruit men and truck growers. It will take the place of 
Nitrate of Soda to a certain extent, in so far that it is not 
so quick acting. 
SUPER PHOSPHATE. This comes in four analyses, namely 
16%, 20%, 24% and 44% and is used in grain crops and others 
requiring an excessive amount of Phosphoric acid, which is 
lacking in Michigan soil and can be applied in large amounts 
with excellent results. 
MURIATE OF POTASH. The best form of Potash for 
fruit and muck vegetable crops. All root crops draw heavily 
on the soil for Potash, especially potatoes and onions. Most 
muck soils are lacking in Potash, and celery will grow a 
much firmer stalk of far better quality when either a high 
grade fertilizer, high in Potash, or Muriate of Potash is 
applied in liberal quantities. 
STEAMED BONE MEAL. It is low in Nitrogen, high in 
Phosphoric acid, which is the best way to apply Phosphoric 
acid to your soil, as bone phosphate gives excellent results on 
all crops. 
PULVERIZED HEN MANURE. Contains double the plant 
food value of Pulverized Sheep Manure and is sold as cheaply. 
Hen Manure is collected mainly from unloading cars in which 
poultry have been shipped and is dried and finely ground so 
that it can be evenly applied and not burn vegetation. 
PULVERIZED SHEEP MANURE. This is collected from 
the Stock Yards, heated to kill weed seeds, finely ground, and 
forms an excellent fertilizer for lawns, golf courses, garden 
plots, etc. 
SHREDDED CATTLE MANURE. Collected from the stock 
yards and is finely ground, containing a similar amount of 
plant food as Pulverized Sheep Manure and is exceedingly 
good for the humus that it adds to the soil. 
LIME. Pulverized Agricultural Limestone is not a fer¬ 
tilizer as it is commonly thought, but is a soil sweetener, and 
every farmer can insure the constant fertility of his soil by 
using a little care and "feeding” the soil regularly with the 
elements needed. One of the most common ailments for lack 
of fertility in farm land is "ACID SOIL”, and it is to cor¬ 
rect this condition, to "sweeten” or neutralize acid soil that 
Pulverized Limestone is used; it has brought bumper crops, 
money-making crops, on farms that otherwise would be prac¬ 
tically worthless. Run down fields where you have been un¬ 
able to grow alfalfa or clover and where moss, sour grass 
and thistles thrive, need pulverized limestone. 
MANGANESE SULPHATE. Research shows that manga¬ 
nese is essential in the manufacture of the green color in 
plants, by the aid of which the most important processes of 
plant growth operate and is lacking in most soils. Manga¬ 
nese Sulphate is added to mineral fertilizers to supplement 
this plant food element and has been found very beneficial 
in growing crops. 
We handle large quantities of these fertilizers every year, have a large stock at all times, and ask that we 
he given a chance to quote you. Write us for prices. 
