Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-03-10

If seeds that are to be used the coming
spring are tested at this season, we need run
no risk of loss from using seed that will not
terminate. The following excellent article
from the Prairie Farmer, on the selection and
testing of seeds, will repay careful reading:
The selection and testing of seed are alike
of the first Importance TO the farmer, garden
er and florist. On the principle that like pro-
duces like, we thus are enabled to pedigree
seed-that is, establish a direct line tracing
back to an original and superior strain and
improved each successive year by careful Sc
lection. The importance of this has long
been known to the more intelligent cultivators
as well as that seed changed from one locali-
ty to another was beneficial to the resulting
crops
Liebig, in his Natural Laws of Husbandry,"
says I'm the selection of seeds for planting
it is always important to take into account the
soil and climate from which they have been
derived. In England seed-wheat from poor
soil is considered particularly well suited to a
rich SOIL rape seed grown in cold regions or
situations is sure to give good crop in warm
err localities. Cloverseed and oats from noun
famous districts are preferred to the same
seeds from the plains Wheat from Odessa
and South Hungary is esteemed in colder re-
gions also. The planters on the upper Rhine
ALAbOlN nOSu AlOll 41dlh1u NC duu Il tIEdIts
In like manner German hax-growers attach
particular value to linseed from Courland and
Livonia," etc.
Other experimenters, upon the principle
that like produces like, and that good feeding
of the soil and high cultivation not only in
creases the yield but also the quality and Wig
or of the crop, by careful selection have, time
and again, produced wonderful results. Thus,
more than 40 years ago, the celebrated Baden
orts, -, Il
full selection and high cultivation would pro-
duce from five to nine ears to the stock, aud
the plants would attain an extreme height of
II feet. The celebrated Hallett pedigree
wheat of England was produced in the same
way. Nevertheless, once disseminated these
improved forms soon ran out; for, under or
binary cultivation, and especially on poor
soil, the plants again became dwarfed, and in
much less time than it required to bring them
up.
This running down is quickly and distinctly
seen in improved farm stock. If they have
no shelter or Indifferent shelter, during the
winter, they lose flesh more rapidly than the
coar6er-bred stock The young are INSULT
cienty nourished during and subsequent to
CESSATION. Many animals die outright, and
the progeny of such as survive are dwarfed,
Informed, and generally out of condition.
The lesson to be learned, either in animals or
plahts 10 tuht IL We AIM ~ nlBu bJhnuAru we
must supply high conditions in order to reach
the results aimed at.
To return to the selection of seed. The
grain intended for seed to again produce
seed, should be selected by thorough winnow-
ings through sieVe-mesh that will save the
largest grains. This again, may be improved
on by casting the grain from side to side on
barn floor. Here the heaviest grains will be
thrown tarthest, and these may be separated
from those that have fallen inside of a given
line. This heavy seed may again be improv-
ed by rolling it along an inclined sieve with a
mesh that will not allow the larger grains to
pass through, using only those which pass
along the sieve and roll of at the end. This
seed should be drilled and sown by ITSELF aud
in sufficient amount to produce double the
quantity of seed required for the succeeding
year, the whole TO be gone over as heretofore
directed; the very best again TO be saved for
the seed-crop, while all the heaviest sound
grain may be used for the general crop. The
idea may be carried out in the same general