The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-04-12
HINTS ON uHANsING SEEDS

AT this season of the year, or earlier,
this subject occurs to many farmers.
We condense our own iGeai on the sub
Jec'. as they have before appeared in
print, for the information OF an inauir-
ing correspondent, and Others who may
be interested in re subjecI:
In the first place, any single kind or
variety of cultivated plant. will do well
ana keep up its most desired qualities
only when it has good chance; : that
~, when II is planted in the right locali-
ty, the right soil, at the right time, and
IL properly cared for through the grow
ing season and h rves ed as il should be.
If any one habitually fails In these
PARTICULARS he can derive only tempo
rary advantage at most, from a change
of seed.
Improved plants are like improved
animals, their very improvement makes
It necessary that the care by which they
were produced should be- continued.
When this is not done they may not do
nearly at well as an old kind, habituated
to some extent to hardships. 1t is a fact
that scrub farmers succeed best with
scrub stock and scrub crops.
AS to the average farmer OF the coun-
try, who aims to do his best with the
means and skill he has, there can be no
doubt that he can often better himself
by change Of seed. But for him the
saying, far fetched and dear bought, is
worth something as warning.
About everything that can be profita-
bly, grown in any well settled locality is
grown there, and, by some growers at
least, is well grown. If, therefore, the
SEED we haYe proves unsatisfactory, the
best place to look for better is in our own
neighborhuod.
1t is a fact that farmers generally do
not know what is going on around them
winch 1t would be greatly to their own
oeneht to know. This is one of the
many great advantages which may be
derived from local clubs and oranges,
especially If they will hold their summer
meetings around at one anOiher's
houses.
Therefore, if you feel it desirable to
to change your seed, get it as near home
as you can, get it right, preferring that
which has attained its merits in soil
and in locality not too unlike your
own. Having got it, and being satisfied
with 1t, there is an idea that came with
1t that may be worth more than the
seed, however good that may prove.
Why not keep it as good as you got it
Why not make it better, and have the
nelghbors come to you for seed, instead
of your going to them?
In the old countries there are still va
rieties OF grain such as were grown IN
Italy, Spain, Greece, Asia Minor. Pales-
tine and Egypt thousands of years ago.
Here and there an individual farmer
may run out his seed, but the trouble is
with his locality, his soil, or himself,
The seed, if it ever was right, will stav
right when rightly handled in the right
place.
1t often is or may be desirable to grow
crops in some localities not so well
adapted thereto as to maintain their
quality unimpared. Doubtless northern
New England is better adapted to the
potato than the sea-coast region. Here
is good reason for the sea coast farm
ers not to grow their own seed.
Peas, like potatoes, produce better
seed in northern than in southern New
England; and there are many other
crops locally profitable which are not
likely to maintain their excellence from
seed grown in the same place,
1t is a characteristic of the early dwarf
corns Of warm climate. when taken
northward, to grow much larger in stalk.
The heat there is not sufficient to per
feet the seed, and the food gathered by
the roots is thrown more into stalk
growth. On the other hand. northern
corn taken too far south gets too much
heat, and makes nu0bins in place of full
ears
The fundamental principle. then,
about the seed changing business is, that
anywhere that any crop or variety
grows to perfection and is quite-at home
Is the place to buy the seed. 1t may be
right where you live, it may be else
where in the same state, it may be even
on another continent; but always it is
best to get change, if with the view of
afterwards raising seed, ( ON the near
est similar spot where you can get it
good, As to advertised novelties, it is
wise not entirely to neglect them, and
wiser not 10 expect or pay too much for
them Vermonter,