The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-25

It IS the habit of every seed house to
introduce some novelties each season. says
the American Cultlvator. AS its reputa-
ton very largely depends on the success
of these. it is very unlikely that any rep
utaole seed house will strongly recon-
mend anything that will not prove an adj
vantage to its customers. 1t is quite com
mon among an over-susp,cious class OF
agricultural editors and writer's to eau
ton farmers against being deceived by
over sanguine expectations. Our expert
ence has always been that the over-sus-
picious man, who is always on his guard
lest somebody should cheat him, is more
apt to cheat himself worse by his excess
of caution than any one else would be
likely to cheat him if he reposed greater
faith in his fellow men.
The truth Is that most seedsmen are
likely to be oVer-cautious rather than in
cautious in recommending novelties. They
may have also another reason for putting
out the vegetables and fruits they feel
most sure will succeed with very moder-
ate recommendations and at prices that
will repel purchasers rather than attract
them. 1t will be a great advantage TO
them if they can retain for one, two or
three years the bulk Of stock of the new
novelties in their own hands. What little
they sell at apparently extortionate prices
only whets the demand for more. The re-
suit is that by the time the popular furore
is at it's highest they have most of the
stock in their own hands and can make
large profits
We remember the experience of an old
farmer in New York state thirty or more
wears ago. He bought a pound of the
Early Rose seed potato when 1t was first
offered, paying, as he then thought, the
extraVagant price of 81 per pound for 1t.
But he said afterwards that he never
made a more profitable investment in his
life He divided the seeds to single eyes,
planted these in hot beds, and made sets
Of the shoots of these. Giving the crop
the richest soil and best culture possible,
he of course secured an enormous crop
from his one pound of seed. His success
helped to boom the new variety more
than that of any other cultivator. He
sold a large part of his crop at very high
prices. but Of course cheaper than he had
himself bought Instead of regretting that
he had not waited year until the new
variety could be sold cheaper he had
every reason TO congratulate himself on
being the first to introduce IL into his
neghborhood.
SO great was the demand for the Early
Rose potato when first introduced that IL
sold for somewhat higher prices for seed
for three or four years afterward. our
friends success induced him to try other
new varieties of vegetables, and especial
ly potatoes, which he aimed Always 70 Sc
cure the first year they were offered in
market. OF course, he was sometimes dis
appointed in results, but on the average,
watching the market gardeners and seeds
mems announcements, and buying all the
novelties they are willing to recommend,
has proven much more profitable than is
ordinary farming.
This is TO a great extent true Of an new
varieties Of fruits. Much more Is lost by
missing something valuable than by the
occasional failures of what has been rec
commended TO come up 10 what Is expect
"a Of It, II the gains and losses are av-
eraged as Is the true way, the policy OF
confidence in our fellow men Is fully VIM
dictated. There is an especial reason why
this trustful policy should be adopted IN.
trying new potatoes. The strong tendency
OF late years for new varieties TO quickly
run out and become unproductive. makes
has been originated from seed. much more
productive the first, second and third years
It rs propagated than II ever Is after
wards This Is why so many varieties
that started out well prove 70 be nearly or
quite worthless The originators were
doubtless honest in their recommendation
of the new variety as very productive, but
It's vigor declined rapidly after u had es-
capped the careful culture and treatment
that Its originator had given the Seeding.