1HE WHEAT CULTUKIST. 235 



CHAPTER III. 



How TO SAVE SEED WHEAT. 



&quot;Oft have I seen the chosen seeds deceive, 

 And o er degenerate crops the peasant grieve, 

 Save where slow Patience, o er and o er again, 

 Culled yearly, one by one, the largest grain.&quot; 



DRYDEN S VIRGIL. 



JUDGING from the suggestions previously recorded, in 

 regard to seed wheat, one would suppose that we might 

 dispense with all details relating to the manipulations 

 of saving the seed. But I consider the manipulations 

 more important than anything I have recorded, as the 

 directions herewith given are an epitome of all the rest. 

 If a farmer will follow the directions here recorded, 

 when securing his seed wheat, from year to year, he 

 will feel so well satisfied with his efforts to produce 

 a bountiful crop of fine grain, that he will never suffer 

 himself to resort to the slip-shod and unprofitable and 

 unfarmer-like manner, which prevails all over our coun- 

 try. 



Let it be borne in mind that earliness of maturity is 

 the most important consideration in saving seed wheat. 

 Of course, then, seed should never be taken from a 

 locality where the crops are backward in regard to 

 maturity. 



It is not only important to select for seed, the grain 

 that matures first on one s own farm, but from those 



