122 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
have fully demonstrated the superiority of fully developed and well- 
matured seed. A few years since the department secured from England 
afew bushels of oats (the Excelsior), which, by means of careful win- 
nowing, had reached a weight of 51 pounds to the bushel. These oats 
were distributed over the country, and numerous reports received 
showed a crop which weighed 40 pounds and upwards to the bushel. 
Without doubt, by continued selection of the heavier seeds, this re- 
markable weight could have been maintained, if not still more increased, 
but through neglect of this precaution, these oats, which promised such 
results, have already fallen down to the common level, and weigh from 
28 to 32 pounds to the bushel. 
It is well known that all seedsmen, in their efforts to develop any new 
variety, are most careful in this matter of selection ; and since there is 
nothing to forbid the ordinary farmer from pursuing the same course 
and attaining equally satisfactory results, the conclusion is that its ex- 
treme importance has net been fully appreciated by our people. 
To emphasize this point, a series of experiments has been made with 
different seeds, the results of which are given below. ‘The seeds taken 
for this purpose were such as, from their size, could readily be picked 
over one by one, and comprised the following: 
1. Maize, Stowell’s Evergreen, sweet, grown in New England. 
2. Maize, Improved Prolific, white, grown in Tennessee. 
3. Maize, Compton’s Early, yellow, grown in Pennsylvania. 
4, Pease, Kentish Invicta. 
5. Pease, Extra Harly. 
G. Pease, Sugar Pease. 
7. Beans, Lima. 
8. Beans, Golden Wax. 
9. Beans, Dwarf German Wax. 
These seeds were taken from the stores in the department, and there 
is no doubt that the percentage of vitality was almost, if not quite, 100. 
One quart of each variety was taken, and by careful picking was 
divided into thirds, as follows: first the best third was selected, then 
the poorest half of the remainder, and the middle third remained. 
‘Upon weighing a given bulk (one-quarter litre) of the best and poorest 
thirds, there were found but slight differences in weight, showing that 
really the seed was all good and full weight. ‘The ratio of best to poor- 
est thirds by weight was as follows: 
Best Poorest 
one-third. one-third. 
Maize, Stowell’s Evergreen ....-. ---- 0--2-+ eee eee cee n ee eee e ne cence 100 to 96 
Maize, Improved Prolific .:---. 62-42. 2-5-2- -2 220 cece ee ces eee eee eee 100 to 101 
Maize, Compton’s Early .......-. d edbod weveta cate Vaey siwaee cass edie 100 to 98 
Pease, Kentish Invictas.ssas .e2ese co sees cee see ceceee oes e ee eee es eens 100 to 97 
Pease, bxtra Barly ..c224s0s606 fase e=s== J dsiSciawees temeccsar cose ssae 160 to - 99 
Pease, Sugar Pease -..--.2-22 2-220 see nne ene eee ences one see cee ceee 100 to 100 
Béans; Hima,..-.2.sssces sees Fo pee SA EC Stee Seusaces sia 1060 to 103 
Beans, Gelden Wax.---...-- bees bes ee RSE esi eee eSs cemdorcucctt 100 to 9% 
Beans, Dwarf German Wax ...:...:-2--s---- piogeeas Decheeiacs/s: a 100 to 98 
As will be seen from the above, in no case was the difference very 
iharked, although in every case but two it was in favor of the best thirds. 
These exceptions doubtless arose from the large size of these seeds, 
which prevented their being closely packed in so small a vessel as that 
in which they were weighed out. 
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