Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-11-12
Save the Best for Seed.


own garden and field seeds whenever it
can be done conveniently. OF course we
admit that under our present rates of
cheap postage there is not SO much ne
cessity for it as in years past, but there
are nevertheless good reasons for contin-
uing the practice beyond the bare fact
of economy. 1t may be urged that men
or firms who make seed-growing spe-
cialty can produce better article ana at
less prices than those who have no
knowledge of the business or special IA
cilities for production. This is certainly
true to the extent named, but there is
much beyond of which very little notice
is taken by those who depend entirely
upon seedsmen for a supply. The abso-
lutte certainty of having the seeds at
hand when wanted, and of knowing that
they are fresh and of the desired kind, is
no small recommendation for home
grown seeds. aast
If everybody would send in their or
ders for seeds several months instead of
few days before they are wanted for
sowing, always demanding fresh and
pure seeds, and then test a portion OF
every lot before committing them to the
earth, noting also what proportion
terminated and reporting results back
to the seller with strong protest If the
latter is caught cheating, we should have
less occasion to speak so strongly in
favor of the home-saved article. But
few do any of these things, and, as q re-
suit, neglect of duty on the part of the
buyer tends to make the seller cautious,
or, to use palmer word, honest.
Our opportunities have been very good
during the past quarter of century for
observing the operations of leading
seedsmen, and we know what it has cost
some of them in time, money and labor
to build up an extensive business. But
we also know that there is a vast amount
of worthless seeds disposed of every
season, all of which is dead loss to the
purchaser. But laying aside all chances
of obtaining mixed varieties or old and
worthless seeds, is it not a matter of
economy Tor the farmer to purchase as lit
tie as possible and sell all he can? Be-
sides, the one great principle of progress
sion and improvement upon whatever
comes into the possession of the farmer
or gardener must be entirely overlooked
and neglected if the seed of the very
best is not saved annually. Variations
occur constantly in all of our cultivated
fruits, vegetables and grain, and If one
| specimen III Ouc buOuSdui
hibits the slightest advance oyerthe gen
eral crop that one should be carefully
preserved for seed Nearly all of our
new varieties of wheat, oats and corn
originated as sport or variation
from the general type of some older sort,
which was carefully preserved and propa-
gated; There are very few farmers who
do not have opportunities of finding new
49, "
them. The best specimen of beet, tur-
nip, cabbage or other vegetable dug this
fall should be carefully laid aside for the
production of seed next season. If this
system was continued year after year we
should hear less of the running out of
varietiessor of failures of crops on ac-
count OF bad seed.
The careful selection of corn for seed
has probably received more attention
than that of any other grain; and while
many of our farmers practice going into
the field and picking out the ears while
upon the stalk in order to perpetuate
some desirable habit of growth, they
would scarcely think Of applying the
same rule to wheat or oats, although the
latter are equally important After a
field of grain is harvested and threshed
out the opportunities for selecting varie-
ties are past, at least where the distin-
gushing characteristics are confined to
the stalk or head. Our improved or per
fected tomatoes, melons, squashes and
other annual fruits will degenerate rap
idly, unless the very best are constantly
selected for seed. and even our old and
inferior sorts may be brought up to
much higher standard by pursuing the
same system. A very little attention to
these matters will not only bring its re-
ward but frequently save the grower
from much annoyance and severe losses,
IN. Y. Sun.