American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-02-26
Garden and Field Seeds.

During the long winter evenings the
farmer should look over his stock OF
field and garden seeds, and promptly
make good any deficiencies. 1t is not a
good plan To wait until spring is ut hand
and planting time actually arrived be-
fore attending to such matters; but
many do so, and in consequences suffer
losses which they can i'll afford a few
postage stamps invested in scedsmen s
catalogues will afford the farmer many
hours of pleasant and instructive read
inr, and he can hardly look over one of
these publications without finding one
or more useful hints, together with de
scriptions of new and valuable seeds
that he may desire to add to his collec-
lion, however large and complete it
NAV be.
He will also find that list of seeds
made out with delibcration will be far
more complete and satisfactory than
one hurried off just before or ut plant
inr time in spring. Ii there are few or
many sorts to be purchased, see that
the list is sent in early while the seeds
man is not busted with orders; then he
can. and generally will, be more care
full in selecting. packing and shipping
the goods. Another advantage in max
ing purchases of seeds weeks or months
in advance of the time they are actually
wanted for use. is that they can all be
tested. and should any prove to be old
and uusound they can be exchanged or
others be procured in time for use. 1t
is not difficult to test seeds in advance,
and ii all would do it many. losses and
disappointments might be avoided. n
few boxes or flower pots filled with
sand and kept in q warm room will an
swer well enough for testing the germ-
Mating powers of most garden or field
seeds. Ii the farmer has no sand or
soil handy, some cotton wool or pieces
o. sponge placed in n shallow dish of
water will answer almost as well. The
seed NAV be laid on the top and kept
moist and warm for few days, when,
if there is any life in them, sprouts will
soon appear, and this is all that is
needed to ascertain if they will grow
when planted out in good soil. 1t is al
ways well to count the number of seed
tested in order to know what proper
ton are good; then it is easy to deter
mine whether they should be sown
thickly or thinly in the field or garden.
If farmers would always do this with
their clover seed, corn, beans, and SIM
liar seeds, they might avoid many sad
failure, caused by sowing old and poor
stock, which is always dear at any
price. Perhaps, too, if more of such
experiments were conducted, those who
depend upon seedsmeE for their annual
supplies might learn why it is that some
can afford to sell SO much cheaper than
others; not that we think that any of
our leading seedsmen would knowingly
cheat their customers, but some are
more careful than others in selecting
their stock and throwing away old
seeds. Seedsnen are very much like
other mon, and dislike to cast aside
stock that has cost them money. if it
can be worked off safely and not injure
their trade or reputation.
But the farmer should not stop his ex-
periments when he has finished testing
the seeds he has purchased, but 90 on
until his own stock has been fully tried,
even to the seed corn saved the past
season. 1t is not always certain that
seeds of ones own saving escape injury
during the winter, and while they may
appear to be all right, their germinat-
ing properties are perhaps injured if
not entirely destroyed. Many farmer
has planted corn of his own saving
which has failed to grow, though just
why it failed he could not determine.
The expense of planting field a sec
only make an inroad upon expected
profits. but very likely result in total
failure.
In making up.a list of garden seeds,
the early and late varieties of the pea,
with enough for several paintings,
should not be omitted, and we mention
this. knowing that great many farm
crs think the old Mrrrowfat is good
enough for table use, and provide no
better sorts. Ordinary field corn, while
green, is still extensively used for cook
ing by many thousands of farmers who
have either never tasted, or are too
negligent to procure, the best varieties
of sweet corn for thoir tables. No one
should be content with an inferior or
second-rate article of any kind. when
the very best is easily obtainable and
within n mans means. 1t costs no
more to raise sweet corn than field
corn, neither will it require any more
labor to cultivate 4 row of improved
pease than one of Marrowfats, although
to procure few seedso each may cost
a few cents extra.
The proper time TO think of such
things is when one has leisure for de-
hence these hints thus early
in the season. While making up your
list of garden and field seeds to send
to the scotsman do not forget the
ornamental plants. A few beds of flow
ers about the house will help much
toward keeping the inmates cheerful,
and while they may not give any return
in the way of food or money to the cul-
tivator, the flower garden is thing not
be overlooked by any one who at
tempts to make home worthy of the
IN ha ntrxy V