The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1872-02-01
THE ENTERPRISE.
Sweetwater, Thursday, Feb. |, 1872.
Importance Of a Frequent Change
of SEED,


It has lang been observed by intelli-
gent farmers that seeds or plants procur-
ed from distant places, within the same
collateral parallels Of latitude. appear to
grow with more strength or vigor in
theirNnew stations than when kept and
cultivated in their native places, On
this fact the rules for Il change Of seed, or
of ono species Of plants for another Of
the same genius, are founded A change
of seed is almost always practically safe
and omincntly beneficial. A change Of
seeds, sets, or plants from one descrip-
ton of soil to another, or from valley to
mountain, or vice versa, seems to pos
soss a repovating influence on the crops.
1t is on this principle that the practice
Of rotation Of crops is based. Plants ap-
pear to become tired Of an o.d station
cxceptGquatic plants, which are constant
ly receiving new clements Of nutrition
from fresh supplies Of water,
Land plants, as trees for instance, oc-
cupy the same spot for ages, but they at
last decay from sheer dccrcpitude. The
lateral extension of the roots-the latter
al runners or Offsets with which many
of them are furnished; some above
ground, as the strawberry; others under
ground, as the couchgrass, thistle, etc
shows that plants like animals, requiro Il
change of pasture, as well as a change Of
air. Every one well acquainted withtho
growth Of plants knows thNtthey require
Il frequent change ofsoil, though but few
consider that a change Of airis also ben
efciol. 1t is well known that someplants
thrive much better in one locality than
in another. There are many plants that
never thrive or scarcely live in the swo~
Ky atmosphere Of London, but when re-
moved to a distance Of twenty Or thirty
miles from that city, grow luxuriantly.
The Belgian farmer raises excellent
crops Of cereals, roots, grasses, etc, and
they are very particular in the selection
Of seed, in procuring it from a foreign
country, if possible, and in stepping tin
liquid manure before sowing. In the
moth Of Ireland, where flax is grown ey-
tensiyely, the farmers prefcrsecd brought
from Russia or Holland, to that grown
by themselves, as they find the change
very beneficial. The Iincst dubious and
tuberous-rooted towering plants are an
nually imported into England, the United
States, etc, from Holland and Germany,
and the change is very beneficial for two
or three years. Forest tree seeds, Oh
tanned from the Black Forest of Germany
or from the mountlins Of the Tyrol, GER
inmate in ether Parts Of Europe with
greater yigor than those OF home growth
Tho genineness and sound condition
Of agricultural seeds depend very much
upon the care bestowed by the secdman
in the selection of his stock, and also on
the character OF the growers he employs
Foreign agricultural seeds are sometimes
damaged by kiln-drying, or admlNturc
with deadened seeds of some cheap kind
Rapc-soed is sometimes dcadened by
kiln-drying, and then mixed With turnil
OF cabbage seed, to which itbears a close
resemblance. In importing seeds from
a foreign country, great caution is neces.
sary i'll order to prevent imposition.