Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-06-02

their growth, quality, production and tim,
OF maturity. This led me to believe thai
the great author OF nature, has so con.
structed that wonderful machine, if NAV
be allowed the expression, as TO incline
every KIND OF soil and climate to natural
lze all kinds of vegetables, that it will. pro-
duce at any rate, the better to sui, them,
II me agricultursis will do their part in
selecting the most proper seed.
In support Of which | will take the IL
-oerty OF subJoining few faefs and expe-
rments out of an Uncomfortable number
which have combined to prove the above
to my satisfaction.
In or about the year l746, my father
procured the seeds along watery squash,
winch have been kept on the farm ever
since without changing, and are now far
preferable to what they were at first. Our
AIRY peas were procured from London
ne spring before Braddock's defeat, anG
nave been planted successfully every sea-
son since on the place. They have not
oeen changed and are now preferable to
what they were when first obtained. The
SEED 81 our asparagus was procured from
New YORK, IN the year 1852, since which
Time have not planted seed but what
grew on my beds, and by selecting the
seed from the largest stalks | have inn
proved it greatly.
n complaint is very general, that pota-
toes OF every kind degenerate, at which
am not surprised, when the most proper
means to produce that efecl is constantly
practised to wit, using or selling the
best, and planting the refuse; by which
means almost the whole of those planted
are the produce OF plants the most dege.
herated. The consideration of which in
ddced me TO try an opposite method. Hav-
ing often observed that some plants or vines
Produced potatoes larger, better shaped.
and IN greater abundance than others.
without any apparent reason except the
operation of nature, it induced me to
save quantity from such only for plant
ing the ensuing season, aud was hipbly
gratiaed in Ending thcirproductio exceed
that oil Others of the same kind. planted
at the same time, and with very equal adj
vantage, beyond my expectation, in size.
shape and quantity this induced me Ia
continue the practice, and am satisfied
that have been fully compensated for all
my additional trouble.
a circumstance happened respecting
Pstates, which may be worth relating 4
q woman whom i met in market request
ed me to bring half Il bushel of sweet DO
tatoes Tor seed the next marke. day, which
promised TO do, but going through the
market on that day, previous 70 her sons
coming Tor The potatoes, observed the
woman selling such as rad brought for
her; when the boy came, | asked him the
reason they wanted potatoes Tor seed,
while they were selling their own his an.
sWer was that his farther said If they did
not get seed from me once in three or four
years, their potatoes would be good for
nothing'-Query, if he had used The same
means in selecting his potatoes for plant.
ng as ] did wlsther he would have pro.
nted by changing with one who used the
other method.
In dlscours'ng with friend who lived
great distance from me on the above
suhJec CT, heintroduced tw0instancesin ia yor
ol changing seed, one was asparagus, the
Gadt5h seed, he had from me, the produc
ton OF both he said was preferable To a.
ny thingof the kind ever seen in the neigh
borhood which was near 100 mics dis
tantt To which he ascribed the benefit
but IN two or three years the radishes de-
generated so as TO be 40 better than what
he had before ] asked his method of s5s
wing seed, he said he had no other radiSb.
es IN his garden, and when he had pulled
what was fit for use let the others 90 10
seed. then told him my method, viz:
AS son as rsaishes are cit Tor use dis
mp ten or we've Of those which please me
best, IS 10 color, shape. SC. and plant them
at least 100 lards from where any others
bloom at the same time they do-this, 7
informed MN was The best method knew
OF TO improve any kind OF vegetables, va.
ryuR the process agreeable to their ma
tnre and as he had IN my opinion taken
lhe most proper method To- degenerate
his, | asked It he thought should be be
neii.cd by exchanging with him his au-
swer was, he believed was the best uar
debcr.
In or about the year 1879, friend sent
me a few grains OF a small kind Of Indian
corn, the grams Of which were no larger
than goose shot, which he informed me
by note in which they were incloscd,