Year: 1859

Selection and Preparation Of Seed.


The first prerequisite to proper seeding
is the selection Of good seed. This invol-
YES several important considerations !:
among which variety, perfect develop
ment and full maturity. perfect soundness
and health of the germ, and freedom
from the seeds of all other plants than
the one in question, are prominent.


THE QUESTION OF VARIETY


Can only be determined after a full IN
vestigatlon into the character of the clim-
ate and nature of the soil; and these
Investigations must be experimental, not
merely speculative. Thus, of the differ
ent varieties of wheat and Indian corn,
there is a great diversity of opinion even
in the sama neighborhood, when there is
bul little difference id the quality of the
sol and none in the character of the
I.climate-a diversity more dependant,
probably, upon the style of preparation
and mode of cultivation than any other
circumstance, and not, therefore legitim-
ate as avidence of their relative merits.
In cases of this sort, we can give no bet
ter advice than that each cultivater test
the matter for himself by actual and re-
peated experiments--experiments which
shall determine the adaptedness of the
several varieties to the length of the
growing season, to the. severity Of the
winter if intended to be sown or planted
in the fall, to the droulhs of summer, the
probability Of their escaping the ravages
of insects, and the various, diseases to
which plants of their class are liable, &c.


Many intelligent farmers are of the
opinion thar an occasional change Of yari-
! eties is essential to the continued health
and productiveness of the crop, and are
therefore accustomed to import their seed
from neighboring districts, or remote sec
lions Of the country, lest the land become
weary with growing the same old sort for
years in succession. That such changes
may result advantageously sometimes, is
highly probable; indeed, we are all fam
iliar with cases in which the benefit has
been marked. But the reason is proba-
bly, quite different from the unphilosophi-
cal one assigned by the farmer, who by
his fancy endows the soil with all the
likes and caprices of the human heart
1t can hardly be ascribed to the difference
in the chemical composition or phySiolOgi-
cal characteristics of the different varie-
ties, on the principle of the rotation Of
crops, since the composition does not ma
terially vary in the several cases. TIC
what, then, is the improvement due g
Evidently to the circumstance that the
first was all the while faulty in its adapt
alton to the soil or climate of the region
or TO the fact of its degeneracy by defec.
tive cultivation until the seed preserved is
10 longer able to produce perfectly
healthy plant. y


The last circumstance-that Of degen-
eracy, through inadequate cultivation:
probably the chief cause, and may justly
be charged with four-ffths of the abOr.
tions which characterize the agriculture
of this country, This leads US to speak
IN the next place, of


THE PERFECT DEVELOPMENT AND FULL


MATURITY OF SEEDS


4 No sane farmer could ever expect II
raise fine stock of any kind from inferior
unsound, or diseased parents; the idea i
preposterous, and contrary to all physio
logical law. The history of the human
race is equally refutive of such theory
and has made oft-repeated and fearful
demonstrations that the hereditary law i
as inexorable as fate. Blu: this law quite
as truly aud completely controls the veg
etable world as it does the animal. 4
healthy and vigorous plant. capable o
) perfect development and maturity, wa
never born of a diseased or otherwise i'm
perfect germ. This principle cannot b
TOO strongly enforced, for none othe
within the whole range of agriculture
science is more frequently ignored il
practice.


Ifthe farmer would plant potatoes, h
first selects out such as are fit to eat, o
will bring the highest price in market
and the remainder, the smallest and hal
rotten ones, he heaps up by themselve
as seed. The result is just what should b
expected-ameagre crop of diseased tn
. bers, hardly worth the cost of planting :
And the world folds its hands, repentan
in view of some national violation of mo
raj law, and impiously talks of the dispen
sations of a mysterious and, divine Provi
denee If he would grow wheat he !
not content with utterly negIecting III
due preparation of the soil, bat is equall
reckless in the selection of his seed. sa
) tisfying himself with such as he may hav
II left over from a preceding inferior croE
or with such as he can purchase at tn
lowest price of some chAss-growing. smut
producing, weevil-feeding neighbor. An
50 of all the crops ordinarily grown b
the farmer.


We repeat it, good crops can only CON
of good seed. In making choice, it wer
Better that the selection be made direcll
from the field, where it is always easie
TO determine the relative value of differ
ent portions of the crop, and that of sue
selected portion Only the most perfeo
seed be saved, even though a considerabl
$ amount of care be requisite. No labo
! could be more economically bestowed
Q and no well-founded expectations of


good harvest can be nationally eatertaine