Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-31
Changing Seed.

Mr.. Editor The editor Of the Maine Farmer
in his paper Of August ith, says: Although
there Is disagreement among farmers upon almost
every farm topic there is one subject upon which
their views harmonize and that is the advantage
of frequent change OF seed for all crops The
extra expense is trining, mere nothing compared
with the advantages gained by always putting in
the best of seed. When farmers deviate from
this course, 1t is not from lack Of knowledge" It
is singular that among all the rules for farming
there should be so few Of universal application
A practical familiarity with the soil, climate and
the peculiares Of the crops is quite necessary to
continued success in farming but the axiom as
serted in the quotation is not an established TRUTH
and indeed it is not accepted by a respectable mi
nority of farmers. The evident meaning is that
the farmers are well agreed that the same variety
of seed of equal or better quality raised by a
neghbor or distant friend s better than that pro-
duced in their own fields. This creed may do for
a negligent careless farmer, but for prudent
pains. taking man no seed is 30 good that of his
own raising. Corn is especially plant that needs
to be taken to mans home and heart and cher
ished like friend A change Of seed is perilous,
and all farmers are cautious in changing seed
a change, whereas continuous selection from
farmers own crop has in repeated instances given
sure and large crops forty, fifty or sixty years
Oats are also continuously raised on the farms in
Vermont without change Of seed, and often with
no particular care in selection of seed by screen.
ing or wnnowing to get the most perfect, which
is desirable. The man who changes seed is the
one who has sold and fed all his grain and is
obliged to SOW what he can get Wheat is alsC
continuously sown, indeed in one instance fol
more than forty years on the same farm. Speak
ing to an agent for Shaker garden seeds, | was
informed that the rule was almost invariable that
they had raised their own seeds for many years
and carefully guarded against mixture or i'm
purity in the variety. Is it not an axiom that the
greatest continued success cannot be gained by
changing seed? 1t is the boast OF seedsmen that
they raise their own seed, and have done so fol
many years, until every desirable quality is rs
suredly fixed as a habit of growth, in the seet
they sell. Frequent change Of seed for al
crops" is neither practiced or believed in as
system by any farmers known to the writer. Fur
thermore there has never been in my extens iv
agricultural reading any such reports aggrega
tion Of reports Of the advantage gained by
change OF seed as to give the knowledge that 4
considered so abundant. New varieties are oc
casionally introduced but are tried with eau ton
and often there is speedy return to the old wei
tried variety that has been raised for many years
H. L. JAMESON.
NoTE BY AGRICULTURAL EDIToR.-Mr
Jameson, in note accompanying the abov
~ nf,nfr l,tntp pott aolyo to
on the subject of it, Whether you agre,
with me, or not" We believe Mr.. Jameso
is quite right in most of his statements, an
yet we agraa with the editor nf the Main
Farmer as to the propriety of change o
seed in many cases. Where farmer is
thorough man, who knows the vital import
ance of good seed and how to produce il
all varieties of cultivated plants grown b,
him which are naturally adapted TO his Liant
and locality can be kept up, and frequentl,
improved, by him. Such man does no
need, and rarely can afford TO change hi
seed of that class of plants. There ar
crops, however, somewhat exotic to tn
climate or locality in which they may b
cultivated which, when reproduced iron
homegrown seed, deteriorate in spite of tn
utmost care. Northern potatoes are univel
sally found to yield much better crops tina
those homegrown in southern New England
This is probably due to the worn conditio
of the soil Of that section rather than
climate, as in the newer soils of souther
New York and in Pennsylvania no simila
advantage from northern grown seed is oil
served, as a rule. We also find that nc
alone Vermont, New Hampshire and Main
potatoes are preferred for seed in souther
New England, but potatoes from the Jresht
soils of those states. Aroostook potatoe
are specially in request for planting. Whe
we get as far south as Virginia, and below
homegrown turnip seed, cabbage seed an
onion seed fail to give satisfaction, and o
the northern border of cotton growing tn
seed has to be renewed from the south, "
from not too far south. Many like illustri
tion might be cited. 1t is enough to sa
now, in this connection, that in few thing
does thoughtful farmer feel the need of
large acquaintance with the principles {
his business, whether derived from book
or from individual experience, than in th
very matter of securing and keeping u
good seed. Farmers who are striving ft
progress soon realize that the limitations
their knowledge are also limitations of the
prosperity and success in business.