3l6 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



GOOD SEED THE FOUNDATION OF SUCCESSFUL 



FARMING. 



H. B. FuLLERTON, Medford, Long Island, New York. 



Most vital to the achievement of success in any one of the 

 many branches of the greatest of all professions — agriculture, 

 are the two factors seldom considered, either by the expert or 

 the lavman. 



First, and by long odds, the most important of these two 

 factors is the individual, for, in agriculture as in manufacturing 

 or commercial lines of any description, it is the individual at the 

 head of affairs who plans, directs, readjusts, enlarges, or con- 

 tracts, foresees difficulties, prepares and perfects plans to cir- 

 cumvent them; who most carefully inspects and selects the raw 

 materials or fundamentals which go to make up the finished 

 product. It is the individual who, keenly observant of every 

 detail, detects and at once corrects errors or omissions. It is the 

 individual who, when the finished product of his factory or 

 store is ready to be put upon the niarket, investigates with the 

 greatest care, notes the points glutted or over-stocked and those 

 short or under supplied and makes his shipments in accordance. 

 It is the individual who is constantly on the lookout for im- 

 proved or more attractive methods of packing and presenting 

 his products. It is the individual who designs or who has de- 

 signed a striking and attractive label or trade mark in order, 

 not only to secure trade for his particular line, but also to 

 secure for himself all the natural increase in demand that in- 

 variably arises through the thoroughly satisfied customer. The 

 capabilities of the average man are ample to develop on each 

 and every one of the items outlined as the basis of success in 

 any business or profession. 



By far the most important item of absolute necessity for 

 agricultural success is the raw material from which springs the 

 plant that is to produce the product or crop to be sold. In the 

 case of the agricultural profession, this raw material is the 

 seed which is to be planted and, strangely enough, though agri- 



