The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-08-19
Agril lture.
CULLING THR CROP.
>, survival Of the Fittsst in Plant Produc.
tiou-sslsction for Seed Necessary with
Plants as we'll az Animals-How
to Set Good Seed Corn.

to Get Good Seed Corn.
Cor. of The Progressive Farmer.
A mysterious and but dimly under
tood, yet withal an economical law
4 Nature, DEGREES that only the fit
tsst of all animals and plants that are
annually born shall survive and wax
strong in the struggle OF life. Sta
tistics show that more than half of
mankind even, die before attaining
The age of 90 years. And how many
that Nature permits to live, prove dis
nal failure in the battle of life, bur
Iens on the fttest in society,"
In the organic evolution of wild ma
+ure, where the struggle of life is
fierce and pitiless, the weak, sick, help
less. and the unfit in any way, are
crowded down or perish, because this
is Natures most efficient way of en-
hancing the physical vigor of the va
-iety.
In every variety of each species of
cultivated plant, there exists certain
ratuually endowed individuals, which,
wing to the favors shown them
hrough progressive hereditary ten
Iencies, possess the power of appro-
uiating to their growth uses, maxi
nun nutrition. Such favored indi-
iduals also seemingly possess the
power to originate progressive at
libutes not possessed by their ances-
~. Accelerated growth force seems
10 center in such individuals, to the
neglect of the weaker individuals of
he same variety, because the progress
live individuals have been endowed
Eith the power of attracting such
orce. 1t then, as a natural conse-
luence, that such endowed individ-
lals excel the weaklings in the sue
asful use of their advantages, and
hus in the struggle of life grow bet
er and produce better. Thus all the
ositiOns in Natures economy are fill
], and the surplus plants either neg
scted or entirely destroyed. This is
yled the Survival of the fttest."
The writer is convinced that the
erm of certain individual kernels of
main has been endowed by Nature,
trough the variations of preceding
enerations, with a peculiarly vigor-
us, progressive propensity, with the
hlity to produce strong plants which
bsorb maximum nutrition and (if
ot hampered with degenerate pol
Enization or association with Ma
ure's weaklings), to produce the
haximum quantity and the highest
1ality. Yet other individual kernels
bonn the same ear CLEARLY Natures
eaklings), through inherited incapa-
-ity, not only make poor growth and
satisfactory yield, but if permitted
the farmer to have free polleniza-
on with Natures endowed stalks, re
bee the yield and breeding standard
every productivity inclined stalk
the field.
When left to their own devices, ami
pals and birds kill off their weak and
Lseased individuals. But when man
IN control of them he does not per-
pit this, but protects the weak among
arm animals and poultry, and in hu-
ban society. That is the humanita-
an way, but not Natures way.
That there are as many drones and
saklings proportionately in a field
grain or vegetables as there are in
Fes Of bees or communities of men,
Natures devotee can fail to note.
nd the writer is convinced that the
Use of barrenness and its attendant
Egeneracy-dry rot, low terminating
o|er, smut, blight, and accompanying
sganic languor-do more through
Sans allowing such weaklings the
aVuege of pollenization, tC reduce
r average yields of all field crops,
Pan poor cultivation, adverse sea
Ms and lazy men, combined
as our plants grow and crowd each
aer, the naturally weak individuals
e forced to subordinate positions in
Se economy of Nature, because they
ere born with but little ability to
ShStand the fierce struggle of life.
le writer believes that it is wise to
Ae some lessons from Nature, in
'hg to initiate her in establishing
natural law of the Survival of
IrT4Ct3 II