116 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



domestic plants may be greatly improved by care in 

 selecting seed. I have practised for several years past, 

 saving seed from the principal head on the most prolific 

 stalk, and last year I thought I had nearly arrived at the 

 heighth of bearing power, when I had a stalk with forty 

 heads. But the seed which I now send you, is from a 

 stalk with sixty-five seed heads, which grew in my garden 

 the present season. I venture to say there would have 

 been at least ten more heads, but another stalk grew so 

 close on one side that it prevented the branches from 

 spreading in that direction. 



Perhaps however, that all this, to you may not be in 

 anywise remarkable or worth notice, but to me, and 

 others who have seen it growing, it is considered so. — 

 It is a well known fact that parsnip and carrot seed, and 

 probably many others of similar branching kind of 

 plants, should only be saved from the principal head. 

 And it seems reasonable to me, that every vegetable may 

 be improved by care in selecting the seed, as easily as I 

 have improved this sunflower. 1 



Many may ask what is the use of raising the sun- 

 flower? I reply that it is worth as much or more than 

 corn, and is exceedingly healthy to feed all domestic 

 animals, and particularly hens and horses, and whenever 

 it is raised in sufficient quantities to warrant it, oil mills 

 will be built that will create a good market for the seed. 

 And if no other use than mere ornament was made of 

 it, I should much rather see it growing in waste corners, 

 than useless noxious weeds. I hope you will do me the 

 favor to plant a few of the seeds that I send you, if for 

 no other purpose, that when you look upon their growth, 

 it may be a happy memento to you that there is one 

 other than yourself, that rejoices in every improvement 

 he sees made in the agricultural pursuits of a country, 

 that must soon degenerate below the regard of some of 

 her warmest friends, unless the present awakening 



1 Robinson here sets forth a doctrine which later formed the 

 basis of operation for many distinguished plant breeders. 



