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stock, to select as breeders from particular parents those of their progeny which show 
the finest points of excellence and the closest resemblance to the original stock. It 
is only by such judicious selection that the blood can be kept at its original standard 
of purity; any neglect in this matter would inevitably result in a speedy degeneration. 
Reverting to the premise laid down in the beginning, we re-assert that the physical 
law previously announced is as applicable to the vegetable as to the animal kingdom. 
If this be true, how very important is it that the agriculturist, upon whom exclusively 
the population of the earth is dependent for an adequate supply of food and raiment, 
should give the utmost care and attention to a judicious selection of the seeds from 
which his crops are to be realized. ‘And yet, in our highly favored South, favored be- 
yond any other land in the fertility of her soil, the geniality of her climate, and the 
equability of her seasons, how criminally neglectful are our farmers and planters in re- 
gard to this very important point. To illustrate the extent of this neglect, it is only 
necessary to advert to the programme observed on the great majority of our farms and 
plantations. In this review I shall confine myself to cotton and corn, the two great 
staples of Southern industry. 
In the matter of cotton, the chief anxiety of the planter is to save the present, with 
no reference to the production of future crops. The cotton is picked from the boll 
as expeditiously as possible, often even without reference to the state of the weather, 
and thrown indiscriminately into one pile in the gin-house, there to remain until it 
may be convenient to start the gin. In this pile there is a general commingling and 
mixture of the bottom, middle, and top crops—the good and bad, the matured and the 
immatured—and from this conglomeration of different qualities is obtained the seed for 
the planting of the next crop.’ It.is true, that some planters are to be found who 
have advanced so far in the science of selection as to be careful to set apart the picking 
from tbe middle crop, (or at least to give orders to their agents to that effect,) the seed 
from which is exclusively used for planting. But even in such cases, in these days of 
dilapidated gin-houses, demolished scaffolds, and general scarcity and unreliability of 
agricultural labor, much of the seed of this middle picking is injured by the heating 
of the cotton in the pile, which invariably generates incipient decay, and to this cause, 
more than to any other, may be attributed the great prevalence of “ bad stands” 
since the close of the late sectional war. 
But supposing that we have discovered in our midst a careful, pains-taking farmer 
or planter, who does not rely upon the issuing of orders, but gives the matter his clos- 
est personal attention. He has kept the different pickings separated and apart; des- 
ignating the best matured and least faulty for seed; he has had it perfectly dried be- 
fore it is piled in the gin-house; he has had it carefully ginned and the seed set apart, 
to be used in the planting of the succeeding crop. With all this very commendable 
care and painstaking on his part, he has nevertheless made only one move in the right 
direction, and, if he stops there, he may justly be compared to the rickety child who, 
having accomplished his first step, toddles along through life without ever arriving 
at the firm, sturdy, and elastic walk of vigorous manhood. 
Upon invitation we accompany this exceptional farmer to his well-tilled cotton-field. 
In our ramble through the luxuriant growth, our attention is arrested. by a stock of 
magnificent proportion and the most perfect symmetry, and literally loaded and bend- 
ing under the weight of well-formed bolls, in all stages of maturity. Thisstock is not 
above medium height, but is of rather bulky proportions. Near the ground it reaches 
out two long arms, and each of these throws out numerous limbs, which are closely 
studded with fruit. From the main body or center stock also proceed numerous limbs, 
gradually diminishing in length as they approach the apex of the plant, so as to form 
almost a perfect pyramid. These limbs are short-jointed, and to each joint is attached 
a large and finely developed boll. Upon closer examination we discover no indication 
of a loss of fruit; the forms have “ stuck.” Our well-pleased friend views this splen- 
did representative of the royal family of “Old King Cotton” with evident pride and 
exultation, and, if the truth were known, has doubtless already fixed it in his mind to 
make exhibition of it at some prospective agricultural fair. 
Near by our attention is arrested by a stock of equal proportion and of even greater 
luxuriance. The same out-reaching arms characterize this stock, and the limbs from 
the center stock are somewhat longer and equally well jointed. There are conclusive 
indications that this stock had been prolific in “forms,” but alas! there are only a few 
matured bolls to be seen; the early promise of fruit has been blasted by premature 
“shedding.” 
In the immediate vicinity of these two representatives of the royal family looms up 
one of tall and graceful mien; no long arms nor bulkiness despoils it of its majestic 
air, but trim and lithe in form, it attitudinizes in the passing breeze the ‘ Grecian 
bend,” as gracefully as any well-laced “dandy” in tights. But that is not its only 
point of resemblance, for upon examining for fruit it is to be found wofully deficient 
and can be classed only as “a cumberer of the ground.” 
Now these three representatives are faithful types of our friend’s entire crop, and his * 
attention being called to the marked differences in fruitfulness and the cause inquired 
for, he very flippantly assigns some essential difference in the elements contained in 
