4-a FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



county) greatly enhances the crop; but soon degenerates. 

 Siberian wheat yielded largely in this Country, for a while. 

 The seeds of apples brought from Europe will produce 

 trees larger than our own. For roots, it is generally sup- 

 posed that seeds brought from a more southerly climate 

 are best. Indian corn, brought far from that quarter, will 

 be in danger of ripening too late : That brought far from 

 the north will ripen too early for a large crop. On the 

 whole, the Farmer should make his changes as judiciously 

 as possible; and in most instances he will then find the 

 product of his crops greatly increased. 



But, in order to prevent seeds from degenerating, by 

 long use, we are of opinion that the plan pursued by Mr. 

 Coofier^ of Newjersey, will be found effectual i though we 

 believe that seeds, improved according to his plan, would 

 undergo a further improvement, by a suitable change of 

 place. 



His method is to make frequent selections of the most 

 perfect plants of every kind, and to cultivate the seeds of 

 these, by themselves, for the purpose of raising new and 

 improved stocks of seed of every kind ; and further, when 

 he raises seeds of plants, of which there are different s/ie- 

 ciesy he is careful to set or plant them as much as one 

 hundred yards from each other, in order that in propagating 

 they should not mix breeds, and thus produce spurious. or 

 degenerated seeds, partaking more or less of the qualities 

 of each plant. 



Seeds are also sometimes susceptible of improvement, by 

 growing -varieties of the same plants together, for the pur- 

 pose of obtaining seeds of a medium between the two. But 

 we will further illustrate these matters. 



Thus, in making selections in wheat, for instance, search 

 for such heads as have the largest seeds, and the greatest 

 number in each head. In Indian corn, of any particular 

 variety, for stalks of good size, with the greatest number 

 of ears on each, and the ears the largest, most perfect of 

 the kind, and best filled. In flax, for the longest stalks, 

 and such as have, at the same time, seeds of good size. In 

 pumpkins, for such stalks as bear the greatest number, and 

 these the largest, and sweetest. In short, in making the 

 selections, take. the most perfect and valuable plants to be 

 found, of whatever kind is wanted, arid from each of these 

 raise the progeny that is to serve as the stock for seed of 

 the different plants to be cultivated. 



In many kinds of plants, such as Indian corn, pumpkins, 

 &c. the selections may be yearly repeated, without any 

 essential inconvenience. In others, such as wheat, barley, 

 kc. yearly selections would be too expensive. In such, 

 let selections be made, say, every eight years; and from 



