Ch. IX.] ON THE GROWTH OF CORN 129 



tative powers must be increased in proportion to its quality : tlie nourish- 

 ment can never be so abundant wlien the parent stock is lean and siirivelled, 

 as when sound, healthy, and vigorous ; and tliere can be little doubt that 

 the plumpest grains are the most eligible. The universal experience of 

 farmers has, therefore, convinced them that the employment of inferior 

 seed is a dangerous kind of false economy, and the finest qualities of each 

 species are now generally chosen for the land to which they are most 

 appropriate *. 



Instances of repeated occurrence might, in fact, be stated, in which, 

 through the selection of seed from the finest ears of corn, crops of superior 

 value have been raised t ; and to that, as well as to the importation of the 

 best qualities of foreign grain, is chiefly to be aUributed the improvement 

 which is perceptible in those in which that care has been taken. Were 

 farmers, therefore, to pay some additional attention to the growth of seed 

 for their own use — by choosing out a favourable spot of land, hoeing and 

 earthing-up the plants until they attained a perfect state of maturity, and 

 sowing only the finest portion of the crop — they probably would thus find 

 advantages in the practice which would more than recompense them for 

 their additional trouble. 



There is a particular period at which each species of seed ought to be 

 soum, in order to bring the plants to a perfect state of ripeness. This, how- 

 ever, depends so much upon soil and season, that it cannot be fixed by any 

 general rule, and the farmer can only be governed by the state of the 

 weather and the forwardness of his work ; for, whatever may be his ex- 

 perience, his judgment may be deceived in the choice of time. The con- 

 dition of the land is, in fact, the best guide ; for, if it be in a mellow state, 

 between drought and moisture, the seed may be put in with confidence. 

 Some kinds, however, prefer a dry and warm soil ; others, that which is 

 more humid and tenacious : thus barley, rye, and buck-wheat, succeed best 

 on the former ; and wheat and oats on the latter. It has, indeed, been 

 remarked that a certain state of the atmosphere — with which all country- 

 men are well acquainted — is favourable to sowing. Some farmers j)lace 

 great confidence in the full and change of the moon ; others, recommend 

 barley to be sown late in the evening, and not to be covered in until the fol- 

 lowing morning, in order that it may have the influence of the dew : but if 

 this have any good effects upon its vegetation, warm weather should be 

 chosen ; for a white frost may have a contrary effect. 



The depth at which the seed of corn should be sown is a matter of some 

 nicety. AVhen a seed which is fully ripe is exposed in a certain state of 

 humidity to a degree of heat much above the freezing point |, it absorbs 



* A method has been pointed out by the Highland Societ}', by which any farmer may 

 saiisfy himself regarding the sufficiency of the grain which iie intends to use for seed : 

 that is, by making trial of small quantities of it in a warm exposure, or in flower-pots, a 

 consideraiile time before the season of sowing, numbering the grains employed in the ex- 

 periment, and examining how many of them produce healthy plants ; and this, it is said, 

 must prove infallible for the purpose in view, when properly conducted. On this, however, it 

 must be observed, that the experiment may become fallacious, from the circumstance 

 that grain is frequently found to germinate, although tlie plants never arrive at maturity. 

 A feeljle plant will also sometimes live in a very rich soil, that would perish in a poor 

 one : instead, therefore, of depositing the seed in the earth usually empioyeil in flower- 

 pots, it should be deposited in mould dug from the field in which it is intended to be 

 sown. 



f Thus hedge-wheat, which is well known as a productive variet\-, was produced from 

 the seed of a single plant of extraordinary size, found casually growing under a hedge, 



X Vegetative life commences under every degree of heat between the freezing point 

 and 150° of Fahrenheit, and is arrested when the temperature is below it, or at o-". — 

 Maine's Veg. Physiol, p. 1 7. 



Vol. II. K 



