The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1870-10-01
NO.35
q
agricultural.
SEED wrEEAT.


The following is the experience of Mr.
G. B. Rogers, Seedsmen, No. 1873 Market
street, Philadelphia:
q AS the time has now arrived for farm
ers TO select their seed wheat, wish TO
give the following as the experience of
some Of the best turner's in this country,
with my own observation for the last
twenty years as dealer in seed wheat.
1t is well-known law in the animal
and.vegetable Kingdom, that we cannot
propagate from the same stock without
deterioration. Those that have failed to
odey this law have done it at a great sac
rifice in'the wheat crop, especially as this
has become the most uncertain and un-
profitable crop grown.
Foreign seed wheat has failed 60 pro-
duee crop in every Instance which has
come to my knowledge 1t is unaccli-
mated, and would require years to be-
come, and is otherwise untitled to thrive
in our soil and climate.
few years since, imported nine va
rieties, selected with great care, and
which cost from seven to ten dollars per
bushel. Some of this wheat was said 10
produce seventy bushels per acre; but.
to my surprise, and that of my patrons,
it failed to yield seventy quarts to tho
acre.
In conversation some time since
with our noted and worthy townsman.
II. Cope, wanted him to import some
seed wheat for me, but he declined, say
ing he chad failed in his experiments
with foreign wheat" In reply to my
question if he knew where the celcbrat-
cd Mediterranean wheat was giown. he
gave it as his opinion that it was grown
in some of the Western States, exported
to Liverpool, and then sent to this
country. This opinion, no said, was
based on the fact that foreign varieties
generally failed to produce well in this
country.
1t is undoubtedly better for farmers in
this country to change their seed from
one locality to another, to fully preserve
its health and vigor.
have found the best results have been
for those on the fiat lands of the Atlantic
States to get their seed from Western
States, or from the high mountain Sec
ton of Pennsylvania; and those who
have light soil, free from lime, to get
seed from the heavy limestone lands.
For those who prefer white wheat, tho
Southwestern States of Western Vir.
ginia and Tennessee. 1t will also pay
the Western farmer to get his seed
wheat from the light lands of New Jer-
sey.
Again, as we all believe in hibridiza-
tion, farmers will find great advantage
in getting their seed from three or moro
different sections and mixing them, se-
lecting those of similar kind and time of
( lipening.
An example of the success with which
wheat may be grown by changing the
seed, is shown in the experience of our
esteemed fellow-citizeu, j. Fewsmith,
who did not fail in his wheat crop for
twenty years, and who changes his seed
every year.
As evidence of what have said, 1 re-
fer you to the mercer potato. After it
had deteriorated to that degree that Ia
fun crop was impossible, you found but
little in changing with your neighbors;
but when you went for your seed to the
virgin soil of the praiFies of the West,
you had good crops again, and when you
adopted the new varieties you grew crop
that exceeded your most sanguine ex-
pectations.