Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-09

As animals are bred from particular strains,
and their good qualities rendered inherent by
in breeding and careful selection, the same
course may be pursued with vegetables and
general farm crops. or all plants wheat may
be managed in that respect most easily. In
the experiments conducted for the purpose it
has been demonstrated that by careful selec-
ton of the strongest stalks, fullest heads and
plumpest grains the seed annually becomes
better and the yield larger. Nearly all plants
used for our purposes have been improved by
selection and cross fertilization, aud no one
can claim that there is any limit to further
improvements.
Que of the crops that can be made to adapt
itself to certain localities is corn. In some
sections it will not always ripen before frost,
and it is not easy to select a variety that will
give satisfaction in every respect upon the
first trial, but by going through the field when
the corn begins to ripen, and marking such
stalks as are vigorous, and the ears earlier
than the others, the crop the succeeding year
may be shortened in the period required for
maturing, and in few seasons, by repeating
the process, the corn will be better adapted
to the soil and climate than any other variety
that can be procured and if at the same time
the most prolific stalks be selected the ears
may be increased to an average of three on
the stalks. DIR. Sturtevant, of the New York
experiment station, bred up bis corn by first
searching for the finest specimens in ear
stalk, tassle, and growth. In the spring he
planted his selected corn, discarding every
imperfect grain. He then destroyed all the
backward stalks so as to prevent the dissem-
ination of deteriorating pollen, and thus an
nually practiced the same method, planting
the selected seed apart from the general crop,
and the result was that when his fields were
planted with the selected seed the yield was
increased from 60 to 100 bushels of corn per
acre, while the corn was as strictly pedgreed
and possessed of certain traits as is the case
with thoroughbred animals.
By judicious selecting and using the seed
of roots such as potatoes, beets, carrots and
parsnips, especially if from the best plants,
every farmer may improve the crop In the
potato the bud end is the portion that produc-
es the strongest plant and gives the largest
yield, yet few farmers consider the fact when
cutting the tubers for planting. The best re.
suits in cabbage, turnips, kale, parsnips ETC.
are derived from seed chosen at the main
stem aud not on the laterAls while the most
attractive fruit is that which grows on the
first portion of the wood of the previous sea-
sons growth.
Not only should the seed be selected from
the best portions of the plants, but a single
plant may be chosen as a foundation for be-
| ginning better variety. 1t is not necessary
! to change the characteristics in all respects,
| for we have varieties almost innumerable,
but to take advantage of those we have to
improve them, thereby insuring larger yields,
earlier maturity, less liability to droughts and
frosts, greater success in the termination OF
seed and higher prices due TO improved ap-
pearance and quality of the crops,
PHILADELPHIA Record