56 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The apparent uniformity in the laws of life, so far as we can 

 understand them, would indicate that in selecting the plants 

 from which to propagate, we should avoid those raised under a 

 highly stimulating method of cultivation, and as a general 

 principle should reject those of unusually large growth, as 

 being more likely to have exhausted their reserved vital force 

 than those of more moderate growth ; while at the same time 

 those of a feeble and sickly habit should be equally cast aside, 

 as requiring too much of the cultivator to be profitable. 



A rule has generally obtained in New England in selecting 

 the seed of Indian corn, to choose the largest and most perfectly 

 developed twin ears. It may be a matter of some consequence 

 to determine if this rule is quite as safe as has been commonly 

 supposed. The chairman of the committee while investigating 

 the potato rot, had occasion to visit a corn field of several acres, 

 owned and cultivated by one of the best practical farmers in 

 North Middlesex. Being struck with the very unusual thrifti- 

 ness of the field, and the unusual number of twin ears, the 

 question was asked how this result was produced. The answer 

 was, " It results from the fact that no twin ears are ever saved 

 for seed, my experience having convinced me that my corn 

 deteriorated rapidly while I followed the old rule, and it has 

 improved with equal rapidity, both in quantity and the quality 

 of the crop, since I adopted the plan of selecting my seed from 

 stalks bearing but a single ear." 



The universal rule has also been to reject for planting the 

 kernels upon the two ends of an ear of corn, and the proposi- 

 tion was received with some coldness, to test the value of this 

 practice by an experiment on the State Farm, at Westborough. 

 The result of that experiment, in connection with others made 

 elsewhere, was to establish the fact that the apparently unde- 

 veloped kernels of the tip of the ear, gave the greatest weight 

 of grain per acre. 



Since the comparatively high price of the potato has compelled 

 the farmer to more economy in its use, extensive experiments 

 have been made upon the comparative value of very small 

 tubers for seed, and the opinion, as far as inquiries have been 

 made, seems to be general,'that tubers of medium size are more 

 likely to give a profitable return than those of a very large 

 growth. There can be but little doubt that more attention to 



