The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-08-30
Seed Development.

I1oS. L nave never found the best re-
suits to come from what is known as
''seed potatoes" My experience with
all vegetation is, as with the animal
kingdom, the most mature, well-devel-
oped stock produces the best result.
This is not only experience, but it is
common sense as well as philosophy.
We do not select the ''scrawny," de-
formed, ill-shapen cow, hog or horse
to produce for us the animals we are
to mature for use. Nor the ugly, ILL
shapen twig to make for us beau
tiful, well-grown tree. Why then
should we take long, small, slim
sweet potato, like a rat-tail file, to
grow fine crops of tubers, Or small,
shriveled grains of wheat, oats or corn
to make perfect specimens of these
crops?
No, let us change these ideas and re-
pudiate them as false and hurtful, and
expect perfect crops only from perfect
seed.
There are certain conditions to be
followed to grow perfect seed.
First. The seed used, of course, to
produce them, we have already argued,
tanned.
Second. They should be planted in
suitable, fertile soil.
Third. They should be well and
properly fed and titled.
Fourth. They should be perfectly
mature and fully ripe
Fifth. They should be gathered I'M
der favorable conditions and properly
housed and cared for until needed.
The conditions for vegetable growth
are quite the same as for animal. How
ever perfect the animal when dropped,
it can be dwarfed and made perfectly
useless, if improperly or scantily fed.
So with perfect seed put into poor soil,
devoid of plant food in itself
or having it scantily furnished
to it. 1t is highly important,
therefore, to know the elements
that enter the growth and develop
ment of plants, and to know how much
of these elements can be found in the
given soil and how many of them, and
how much of each kind must be sup
piled by the farmer. Hence, scientific
men are constantly giving to us the
analysis of plants and suggesting or
naming the proper food elements for
their growth and Development Such
information is valuable for success,
and fear not properly appreciated by
those for whom it is prepared.
Again, can not believe that an i'm
mature seed, devoid of any given ele-
ment, can furnish that element to the
seeds grown from it. This accounts for
the degeneracy among our crops, just
as weakness naturally comes from
animals that are themselves deficient
in vital force, until the generations ab-
solutely run out and the family dies.
have been astonished at the methods
of some farmers in housing their crops.
Cotton seed, from which the succeed
ing crop is to. be grown, are gathered
damp, and after ginning, are
thrown into large heaps and al
lowed to go through sweat, just as
hurtfu1 to their vital force as any
damage that can come to them in their
growth and maturity. Quite a good
deal the same management is given all
other kinds Of seed.
The crops on the farms are now ma
turing. Seed may not have been grown
for the special purpose of maturing
succeeding crop. Let me suggest that
we at least begin this improvement
now and select from all crops the seed
grown under the most favorable con-
ditions and give them better care and
more attention the next season.-Cor.