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64. SEED CATALOGUE AND GARDEN GUIDE.

[image] NEW UPLAND RICE

Farm Seed Novelties.
UPLAND RICE.
It is a well known fact that rice forms the principal food of one-half the population of the earth and it is far more of a staple the world over than wheat, rye or corn. While it has been grown to a limited extent in South Carolina for a number of years, still in 1898 there was imported into the U. S. 190,285,315 lbs. to supply the demand, and that is about the usual import. During the past few years the people of the U. S. have awakened to the immense possibilities of this crop, and some Des Moines men who have started rice plantations in the south have minted money with wonderful rapidity. One man after paying all the expenses incident to starting a new place, cleared $1,500 on 16 acres, the first year. The main expense in growing rice has been the necessity of irrigating or flooding the land. This cools the land, retards the growth and makes it impossible to grow rice in the northern states. We now offer our customers an early variety which can be grown on any ordinary land, although it prefers a moist situation, and has matured in Illinois. In an ordinarily favorable season it will yield 20 to 40 bushels per acre, or fully as much as wheat, and it has yielded 80 bushels per acre. Its growth is similar to wheat. Ordinary rice is sown broadcast, 1 to 3 bushels per acre, but the Upland Rice requires only one peck per acre. Sow early in spring in drills 2 feet apart, and drop the seeds 1 inch apart in drills covering about 1 1/2 inches. It stools out very heavily. We have only a limited supply of seed this year, but we want every farmer to try it. Select a good place to sow it and prepare to supply your neighbors with seed next year at a good profit. Price per packet 5c, 1/4 lb. 15c, 1 lb. 40c, 3 lbs. $1.00 postpaid. By express or freight, 1/2 pk. 75c, pk. (11 lbs.) $1.25; bu. $4.50. Order early.
IDAHO COFFEE PEAS.
A new substitute for coffee, not at all resembling the German Coffee Berry, listed on page 45. It is a native of Idaho and has been grown largely in Colorado and elsewhere, producing immense crops at a low cost, one plant sometimes bearing as many as 1,000 pods. When roasted and ground it has the flavor of coffee. The peas when boiled without roasting are equal to ordinary garden peas. Pkt. 5c, 1/4 lb. 15c, lb. 40c, 3 lbs. $1.00 postpaid.

WONDERFUL RYE-BUCKWHEAT.
A wonderful new grain from Russia which has never before been introduced in this country. It is a curious variety of buckwheat and is exactly like the ordinary varieties in foliage, blossom, shape of plant and habit of growth, except that it produces grains free from hulls and greatly resembling rye in shape, as shown in our illustration. On our farm it yielded a much heavier crop than either rye or buckwheat, and proved a great success. Seed may be sown at any time from April 1st to August 1st. We have received letters from several of the Agricultural Colleges in various states speaking highly of it. Pkt. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 50c, 3 lbs. $1.25 postpaid.
GIANT SPURRY.
An excellent plant for pasture and it grows so well on poor, dry, sandy soil, that it has been called "the clover of sandy land." Grows very rapidly and is of great value for light or thin ground and several years' experimenting at the Michigan Agricultural College has proven that it is the only plant which can be grown on poor, sandy, dry soil, that will surely return a paying yield. In another report they say: "The Spurry has shown wonderful productiveness. Its value as a manurial plant on light sands is pronounced. It seems to enrich the soil more rapidly than other plants. It is readily eaten by sheep and cattle." Sow broadcast the latter half of March and in April or May at the rate of 10 lbs. per acre, if wanted for hay. It germinates quickly, and in from 6 to 8 weeks is ready to cut. It is usually cut for hay the first time, and pastured afterwards for the rest of the summer. If wanted as a fertilizer, plow under when 15 to 20 inches high. Two crops can be plowed under in one year, on account of its quick growth. It is an annual. Pkt. 5c, lb. 30c, 3 lbs. 75c postpaid. By freight, 10 lbs. $1.25, 50 lbs. $5.00, 100 lbs. $9.25.

[image] RYE-BUCKWHEAT.

MACARONI WHEAT.
Few people have any idea of the immense quantity of Macaroni used in this country, and until very recently it has all been imported, but now there are several factories in the U. S. and it is said that the largest factory in the world is located in Iowa. It requires a special kind of wheat to make it, the best being known botanically as Triticum Prolonicum. It is a very heavy yielding variety and does specially well in the semi-arid plains. A million acres could profitably be devoted to this new grain, which is now of little value for other crops. It seems to be always a sure crop and will mature in a shorter season than any other wheat we know of, and is therefore desirable for Minnesota, Dakota, Manitoba and the Northwest. Sow seed early in spring, about 1 1/2 bushels per acre. There is a heavy export demand for the wheat and from one section of Canada, where they have been growing it they exported about six hundred thousand bushels. Does well on good soil but the yield is larger and quality better when grown on poor land. Don't fail to try it. Pkt. 5c, lb. 30c, 3 lbs. 75c postpaid. By freight, 1/2 pk. 65c, pk. $1.00, bu. $3.00, 2 bu. or more @ $2.75.

[image] SERADELLA.

Mr. Davidson of Kansas, says that his Alfalfa Clover produced four crops of hay--8 tons, value, $4.00 per ton in the country, or $32.00; also a yield of 11 bushels of seed worth $8.00 per bushel or $88.00, making a total of $120.00 per acre in one season, or about three times the value of the land. How would that kind of a crop suit you? Better try Alfalfa this year. Ask for our price on Alfalfa seed.
SERADELLA.
When traveling in Germany we found that Seradella was the most profitable of all fodder plants grown there and almost everybody grows it for hay. We have grown the plant here in a limited way for several years but mainly on rich land, while it is specially adapted to light, poor or sandy soil. It has proved to be of great value, being considered fully equal to red clover in nutritive qualities and yields a much larger crop. It is one of the best drouth resisting plants known, and does well on high land as well as low, and in fact succeeds well anywhere except on heavy or clayey soils. Cattle are very fond of it as hay, green fodder or for pasturing. It makes a dense, thick, rapid growth, covering the ground completely and choking out all weeds. It is not a perennial but can be cut twice and will produce good pasture balance of year. Sow early in spring alone or with wheat or other grain. Progressive farmers will give it a trial this year. Pkt. 5c, lb. 30c, 3 lbs. 80c, postpaid. By freight, 10 lbs. or more @ 15c. Bushel of 45 lbs. (will sow 3 acres), $5.50.

ONE COW.--Even if you have only one cow it will pay you to put in half an acre of Pencilaria this year. One grower estimates that 1/4 acre will supply a cow with green fodder all summer, and 1/4 acre will grow sufficient hay to feed her all winter. 40 cents worth will plant half an acre. See page 47.

CORN JUDGING.
Do you know a good ear of corn when you see it? Can you state in a clear, concise way the reason why one ear is superior to another?
OUR CORN JUDING MANUAL
may be worth hundreds of dollars to you. Price 10 cents, or free to persons who buy seed corn from us this year.

[image] MACARONI WHEAT

YOU WOULD BE PLEASED WITH OUR GOLDEN WEST CORN.