XXIX 



The Selection of Varieties 



F a stranger were to write to 

 me and ask me to select a wife 

 for him, I should be somewhat 

 embarrassed by the request. 

 Yet the problem would be only 

 a little more difficult than the 

 one which is constantly pre- 

 sented to the experiment sta- 

 tion officer, or the specialist, 

 who is almost daily in receipt of letters asking for a 

 selection of varieties of strawberries or plums. 



The fact is, the best varieties for any man are the 

 ones which do best for him. This nobody can dis- 

 cover but himself. Often the varieties which do best 

 are simply those which he likes best. He takes most 

 interest in them. He cares most for them. He gives 

 them better culture, — which is saying the same 

 thing, — and they succeed accordingly. 



The selection of varieties is very largely a per- 



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