Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-21
Save Your Own Seed.

Every intelligent tiller of the soil will
admit that whatsoever a man soweth
that shall he also reap" If one soWs or
plants inferior seed he cannot expect a
bountiful crop Of either roots or grain
Small and half-matured kernels of wheat,
oats, rye and corn cannot be expected to
yield large panicles and ears filled with
plump and heavy kernels. If one plants
the seeds of carrots, parsnips, turnips and
cabbage which grew in the small pods
and the halfmatured panicles on the slen-
der stems, he cannot produce large roots,
even if the soil has been brought to an
excellent state of fertility.
This suggests the great Importance of
raising seed of the choicest quality. 1t
will cost no more to raise one thousand
bushels of beets or turnips, per acre, than
three hundred, if plump and heavy seed
has been properly saved.
in order to produce large, heavy seed
of garden vegetables, select a few large
carrots, few turnips, parsnips and beets,
and plant them in rich soil early in the
growing season. They should be planted
about thirty inches apart, that the tops
may have ample room to spread. When
the blossoms begin to appear clip off all
the small side branches, leaving only four
or five central stocks, which will yield
seed of much better quality than one can
usually purchase. Every kernel of such
seed, when planted, will produce large
root. Turnips and carrots may grow in
close proximity; but turnips and carrots
designed for seed should be transplanted
several rods apart. One cabbage will
yield as much seed as one family will
care to plant, unless a crop is grown for
market. A superb head should be trans
planted as it grew. The top of the head
shoU-- oe cut open, so that sprouts or
seed-stalk may readily spring up through
the center.
AS soon as the panicles of carrots and
parsnips begin to turn brown, and when
the pods of cabbage and turnips begin to
lose their green color, let the stalks be
cut off close to the ground and hung up
in some building. When the pods,
leaves and stems are quite dry, let them
be spread on a clean floor, or on large
blanket, and the seed threshed off either
with fail or by crushing the pods with
ones feet.
In order to have large and early toma-
toes, the first ripe fruit should be allowed
to hang to the vines until the seeds are
fully matured. By selecting seed in this
manner for few years tomatoes will
come to maturity much earlier than in
the ordinary way, and every stalk will be
loaded with fruit
The melon, squash, cucumber and
pumpkin that ripen first should be al
lowed to hang to the vines until the stems
are quite dry; then, when they begin to
decay, remove the seeds, spread them on
board or canvas to dry. The vitality of
Such seeds iS frenupntIv deetrovod NV foo
much solar heat, or by being scorched be-
meath the kitchen stove.
Flowers will be maturing their seeds
at different periods through the entire
growing season. The seeds of some flow
ers will ripen in June, while others will
not ripen till September or October. 1t
will require but few minutes to attend
to the cultivation and gathering Of all the
seeds one may need, if he will attend to
the little matter at tine proper time-N.
7. Observer