ON SEEDS.
Among plants, as among animals, there are different breeds to be found, some mean, some middling, and some quite superior. The intelligent grazier, or raiser of cattle of every sort, selects the finest animals he can find for breeders of his future stock; and in this way he experiences a wonderful improvement in its value, whether the stock be of horses, neat cattle, sheep, or swine. The same precaution should be observed by the agriculturist in the selection of the seeds of different plants which he cultivates—he should constantly select his seeds from the finest breeds of plants of every kind. In some cases such selections are attended with more trouble than with others, but in all cases it is a matter of the utmost importance in the improvement of crops. Some general rules for such selections shall now be pointed out.
For Indian corn.—Search for such stalks as bear two ears, at least, and take the largest ear of each stalk for seed, rejecting the grains on both ends. Pursuing this practice will, in a few years, increase the corn crop at least one third.
Wheat, Rye, Barley, &c.—Search among the sheaves for the largest and best filled heads.—Sow the grains taken from these by themselves, and when the product is sufficient for seed, sow of this selected stock only. Repeat the selection about every six years.
Flax, Hemp, &c.—At the time of pulling the crop, select the longest stalks to be found, sow the seed of these separately, and the product will probably afford seed sufficient for the next year's sowing. Repeat this, as before mentioned.
Carrots, Beets, Turnips, &c.—Make yearly selections of the largest and most perfect roots, for bearing a supply of seed for the ensuing year.
Pumpkins, Squashes, &c.—Select such plants as bear the greatest number or the greatest quantity of pumpkins, or squashes, &c.——take the largest of the produce of each plant, and after opening them, the quality for sweetness of each can be ascertained. Select your seeds for the next year's crop, from the sweetest of the collection.
Cabbages.—Preserve the stalks for seed, which bore the largest and finest heads, or leaves, according to the sort of cabbage.
Apples, Pears, &c.—No selections from the seeds of these, will insure the same sorts of fruit as those from whence the seeds were taken. The finest of these fruits are only to be obtained by ingrafting. It is however said, that by taking the seeds only from the south sides of such apples or pears, as grow on the finest of these fruit trees, varieties of young trees will be afforded from such seeds nearly equal to those from whence the seeds were taken.