POTATOES A SURE CROP. 115 



will feed on the manure that was spread broadcast, as i^ is char- 

 acteristic of potatoes to feed from the surface the last part of the 

 season. 



By deep planting we get a more strong and healthy plant. Be- 

 sides, potatoes like a cool place to lie in and are not so liable to rot, 

 as it is very well known now that the rot first attacks the tops of the 

 potato then is washed down by the warm rains of early autumn, and 

 those potatoes which lie near the surface will suffer the most. 



The question of seed is an important one and of vital importance 

 to the potato raiser, for the law that is acknowledged to prevail in the 

 animal kingdom also applies in the vegetable kingdom, that like be- 

 gets like ; and he who disregards this law will make a serious mis- 

 take. 



Natural selection is undoubtedly the principle by which species 

 are preserved, whether it accounts for their origin or not ; and arti- 

 ficial selection of seed is the only method by which anj- variety can 

 be improved or even maintained. Without it the variety always 

 either runs out or degenera*^es so much that it soon becomes unprofit- 

 able to cultivate. There are many records of carefully conducted 

 experiments made on many kinds of cultivated plants, showing dif- 

 ferences in the seed itself in vigor and in crop-producing power. 



Among those who have thus benefitted the world, we might men- 

 tion the name of Frederick Hallett of Brighton, England, who was the 

 originator of the famous Pedigree wheat. Dr. Gustave Marck of Ger- 

 manv has published a long account of experiments made b}' him 

 which go to prove the superiority of well-selected seeds. Professor 

 Lechman, in Bavaria, shows by his experiments very striking results 

 in the same direction. Professor .James Bakeman of the Royal 

 Agricultural College, England, has experimented on the various 

 root crops and gives us some valuable information in regard to their 

 culture. Darwin cites his authorities, savint? that in France since 



' I/O 



the cultivation of beets for sugar the plant has doubled its 3'ield of 

 sugar, and that it has been done by a careful selection of seed. 



The selection of the best seed, or the rejection of the poorest, has 

 always been the only method of improving crops. All experiments 

 point the same way, and the law is universally recognized. 



In this connection it is well to remember that it is easier to run 

 out a crop by using bad seed or even by simply neglecting the selection 

 of the good, than it is to improve on already good varieties. The 

 down-hill road is the easiest travelled. 



