Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1855-10-17
Agricultural Intell,eencs

FARM AND GARDEN SEtDs-The business
Of saving seeds for the farm and garden is one
Of much importance, and yet is so Little regar-
ded by many, that it requires sp ciai notice,
and should be u,gsd uI on the CT nsideratlon of
The thoughtful and careful cuItivators Of the
sol. Much Of the SIX i'll in culture fails of its
due reward in cor sequence of imperfection in
he seed planted or sown
The law of nature. that sslike begets like" is
as true of tn, vegetab world as of the animal
Kingdom. In selecting seeds for field and gar
der culture, reference should always be had to
pl .nts or grams that have attained the highest
perfection i" growth ard maturity. In savin.
seed corn, the farmer should select, when husk-
Ing, the best and most perfectly developed ears,
choosing from stalks that bear two or three
ears when it can be done, thus securing weld.
ley, select the largest and best heads. A man
who adopted this method in wheat culture,
greatly inc eased the yield Of his heat per
acre. HIS custom was TO 60 through his v heat
tie and select the lorge.t heads that were well
filled, thereby multiplying The long heads In fu-
ture crops So Of Other grains.
Varieties OF corn and other grains, roots,
bulbs, &c., Ct the same species designed for
SEED, should generally be kept separate in cul-
OF corn, never plant it near an ordinary variety,
u you ould prevent deterioration or drumming
out. as the farmer says In perfect,ng u vari-
ETY. by experimenting, som I! ing is gained
some times by mingling varieties after hav ng
attained the degree Il improvement des rable,
then ket p the variety thus improved separate
from all oti ers, while Gu liz ating for the sake
OF crops, for market or use, either for bread or
feeding.
A full and well matured kernel of wheat or
corn will send up, when planted, stronger
plant with broader leaves, containing more vi
tai power than seed of an imperfect or inferior
kind. As vigorous and healthy animals will
grow, thrive and fatten on keeping that the more
delicate would continue lean and lank upon,
scarcely more than deriving bare substance !;
so OF plants, whether corn or some other grain,
the vigorous seedlings grow and thrive, while
the feeble weakl.ngs lack energy 10 penetrate
PEI feet the plant Always, therefore, select
the best roots for seed, whether teets or any
other, and continue to do so from year TO year,
thus progressing towards perfection
Gather your seed u hen perfectly ripe. in fair
weather, and carefully dry it before putting it
away for future use. In so doing You preserve
the vital power Of the seed. When properly
prepared put them in bag. or papers, il garden
seeds, label them and store them in good place
Tor II nre use.
In buying seeds, Of whatever varieties, strive
to procure the best-and such as are free from
weed seeds Of every species ead variety The
want Of proper care IN this respect has resulted
in the extensive propagation Of manly, noxious
and troublesome weeds. In selecting beans or
peas for seed, procure the lar est pods Thus
have subsequent crops been &, eatly increased
and improved.
Wha. has now been SAID will serve, perhaps,
TO awaken greater care and ate ton to the ex.
eeedingIy important business of selecting, sa
wing and storing all kinds Of roots, bulbs, grains.
&C., designed fer future planting and sowing in
the Geld and garden. Far too little attenti IN
has hitherto been given 10 this subject. Bear
in mind that it you would have vigorous plans
you must give special heed to the business Of
saving and procuring seeds. Like besets like ),
Men do not usually gather sbundant harvests
from imperfect seed or seed ns Now il n :
time 10 attend to this subject, so far as il relates
70 the latter harvest.-L. W.-lRurai New
Yorker, Oct. 8. -