30 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



SEED CORN 



By E. Lewis Sturtevant. South Framingham. Mass. 



Whichever variety we select to plant, it is of extreme 

 importance to obtain the proper seed. We feel disposed to 

 ascribe more importance to the character of the seed used than 

 to any other one feature by which we influence our crop, for 

 he who exercises judgment in his seed is pretty apt to exer- 

 cise judgment in the culture of the plant which it produces, 

 and to obtain profitable returns. 



The seed has an hereditary character, which causes it to 

 transmit the peculiarities and habits of its race, and just as 

 fixed as is a peculiarity by human intervention, are the 

 chances for its appearing in the crop. There seems to be a 

 natural amount of crop for each species to l)ear. This amount 

 can be readily grown by any farmer who will keep free from 

 weeds and supply sufficient manure. We all know how 

 manure seems to show in the crop until a certain amount has 

 been supplied, and then the extra amount does not increase 

 the crop in proportion. If 20 cart loads of dung applied to a 

 field admits of our raising 50 bushels of corn, it does not 

 necessarily follow that 40 cart loads will give us a crop of 

 100 bushels, and 80 cart loads a crop of 200 bushels. Many 

 a farmer by using dung freely can raise 50 or 75 bushels of 

 grain to the acre, but how difficult it is to be sure of 100 

 bushels or 125 bushels per acre. The fact is, that it does not 

 require a verj^ high class of seed to raise 50 bushels of corn 

 to the acre, and if we consider this the normal productivity 

 of the seed, it is quite easy to raise this 50 bushels by appl}^- 

 iug dung, and ordinary care. When, however, we ask 100 

 bushels, Ave are getting beyond the normal capacity of the 

 seed, and thus meet with a check. In fact, we have shown 



