70 ARID AGRICULTURE. 



SOME SEED The best seed, regardless of cost is the most 



SUGGESTIONS pj.^^^ The cost of good seed is small com- 

 pared with the value of the resulting crop. The 

 difference in the price of first and second grade 

 seed does not make a great difference in the total 

 cost per acre. Like produces like. The hest 

 seed invariably results in the best crop. It is 

 especially important that the dry farmer plant 

 thoroughly clean seed that is free from weeds. 

 We know of nothing that causes greater loss than 

 the presence of worthless weeds. They rob the 

 soil of its moisture and use plant food that be- 

 longs to the crop. 



Without exception every student of western 

 farming recommends the use of seed that is ac- 

 climated or that has been grown under the same 

 conditions as those where they are to be planted, 

 or as near these conditions as is possible to ob- 

 tain. This subject of the breeding of varieties 

 suitable to our western conditions and the adap- 

 tation of plants to soil and climate is one of the 

 most important with which we have to deal. As 

 a rule seeds raised under irrigation or in a 

 humid climate are not good seeds for dry farm- 

 ing. Good seed cannot be produced as cheaply 

 or sold for the same price that common bulk 

 crops bring. With the breeding work that is now 

 inaugurated in the arid region it will be but a 

 few years before new and improved varieties of 

 farm seeds will be made available. This work 



