The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-01-20
M;lhe Earna.
Changing Farm Seeds.
From the Country Gentleman.

mark of the editor of the " Gardeners
Monthly" that on various disputed
points many persons will write a year
in preference to OBSERVING an hour.
Others adopt conclusions from single
observations, instead of the repeated.
continued and varied experiments re-
quired to establish permanent truth.
We remember some curious examples
of these hastv conclusions in wears past,
and among Others u few very striking
ones cited TO prove the wonderful eiii-
cacv Of electricity in the growth OF
plants. In one instance. a grape vine
planted at the foot Of Il lightning rod
grew twice as large in "A single year az
others In another. row Of beans
planted over buried wire with upturn-
ed points at each end to attract elec
tricity, doubled in growth any other
beans in the garden. But it was found
that in both cases the Increased vigor
was wholly due to the LoosENED SOIL
resulting from the large hole dug for
the foot of the rod in one case, and from
opening Il trench to receive the wire in
the other
We want more complete proof to
establish the common opinion that a
change Of seed from one locality to an
other results in Il uniform benefit to the
crop. This opinion has been adopted
in some cases from single trial when
other influences may have made all the
difference: but more commonly it is
held bv farmers who have heard others
say so. What we need is series of
experiments. repeated under varying
influences; for much depends on know
ing the exact truth in the matter If a
change of seed is decidedly useful, it
should be more generally adopted but
if nothing is to be expected from 1t, this
on the other hand should he known
that more attention may be given to
the Improvement Of crops by success
sive selection of seed on the same farm.
Experiments to determine this point
should be conducted under two separ-
ate heads First when seeds proper
are sown or planted annually, which
produce new plants, as with corn, wheat,
beans and turnips: and secondly, when
the plants are propagated continually
by cuttings or olishoots from the same
plant, without employing seed as with
potatoes, Strawberries, grapes, etc
When crops are raised by sowing or
planting true seed, as corn or wheat
this change should not be made unless
the cutivator is sure it will result in
positive benefit or unless he can tind
another farmer who has taken more
pains in annual selection, and has thus
secured superior varieties. The in
stances are numerous where farmers
have obtained more productive varieties
of corn by continued selection of the
best ears from the most productive
stalks. We have had occasion to ex-
anime the corniields of farmer in this
State, who 10y this process has so i'm
proved his seed as to average seventy
husked bushels per acre from his rich
lands, and who has so improved the
eariness of the dent corn of the Middle
States, that his crops ripen perfectly in
4 latitude between Al and - degrees
BY successive selection of turnip seed
for many years he obtains very salts
factory crops-the best we have any
where scotland he would not accept
as gift any imported seed, while he
can thus use his own. 1t is well worth
while to determine whether in addition
to this improvement, further benefit
would result from change in transfer
ring this improved seed to other locali-
ties where it will receive equally good
management in as rich a soil.
While so many instances are known
Of the benefit of continued selection of
corn, it is little surprising that enter
prising farmers have not adopted
systematic Improvement of their seed
wheat-either by the slow process of
picking out by hand the best heads in
the best parts Of the field before har-
vesting, or by the use of proper sep
arators, securing in a more rapid and
easy manner the largest grains
These results from planting the
seed) already mentioned, seem to be
produced with a good deal of certainty.
and the practice Of selection should be
always adopted. But when the same
individual variety is increased by
means of cuttings, as with the potato.
there appears to be much uncertainty.
External influences often have largely
controlling and varying effect. The
same variety of potato, for instance, is
often changed in quality by change of
soil or locality. In one place we have
seen the Peerless the best of all the
table sorts, when tested with others of
the highest reputation in other local-
ties, it has proved perfectly worthless.
These changes make it difficult to decide
that as an average, in the long run,
potatoes are benefited by removal
These same remarks will apply to fruits.
They are changed in quality in various
ways by change of localitv-some
but slightly, others to remarkable de-
gree.
In connection with this subject, the
dcterlOratlng of varieties by continued
cultivation should he borne in mind
Several Of the newer potatoes, which
were introduced within the past 90
years, which gave large crops at first.
dWlnded in prodGctivcncss and Were
by many cast aside and planted no
more. In some Instances this deterior-
alton was owing to planting in ungenia
soil, affecting their productiveness in
the same way that nnsenial soils in
jured their quality But more com
monty perhaps, this delerisation re-
suited from imperfect culture New
sorts, which We're at first sold at a dol.
lar pound, would be sure to be plant
ed in rich soil and be cultivated with
the best care: but as they became
common and cheap, poorer soil and
diminished care reduced the product
and the vigor Of the sort. This same
influence has lessencd the popularity of
reputation Of some strawberries, high
priced at their Introduction. 1t has
affected some well-known fruits. which