1'90 



Information in Jlgrimllure and Gardening. Vol. IV. 



his method of saving seed: he said he had no 

 other radishes in his garden, and when they 

 had pulled what was tit for use, let the others 

 go to seed. I then told him my method, 

 namely : — As soon as radishes are lit for u^e, 

 I dig up ten or twelve of those wliich please 

 me best, as to colour, shape, &c., and plant 

 them at least one hundred yards from where 

 any other blooms at the time they do. This, 1 

 informed him, w^as the best method I knew 

 of to improve any kind of vegetables, varying 

 the process agreeable to their nature ; and as 

 he had, in my opinion, taken the most proper 

 method to degenerate his, I asked if he 

 thought I should be benefited by exchanging 

 with him ? His answer was, — he believed I 

 was the best gardener. In or about the year 

 1772, a friend sent me a few grains of a small 

 kind of Indian corn, the grains of which were 

 not larger than goose shot, which he informed 

 me, by a note in which they were enclosed, 

 were originally from Guinea, and produced 

 from eight to ten ears on a stalk. Those 

 grains I planted, and found the production to 

 answer the description, but the ears small, 

 and few of them ripe before frost. I saved 

 some of the largest and earliest, and planted 

 it between rows of larger and earlier kinds 

 of corn, which produced a mixture to advan- 

 tage ; then I saved seeds from stalks that 

 produced the greatest number of the largest 

 ears, and first ripe, which I planted the ensu- 

 ing season, and was not a little gratified to 

 find its production preferable both in quantity 

 and quality to that of any corn I had ever 

 planted. This kind of corn I have continued 

 planting ever since, selecting that designed 

 for seed in the manner I would wish others 

 to try: — viz. when the first ears are ripe 

 enough for seed, gather a sufficient quantity 

 for early corn, or replanting, and at the time 

 you would wish your corn to be ripe gene- 

 rally, gather a sufficient quantity for planting 

 the next year, having particular care to take 

 It from stalks that are large at bottom, of a 

 regular taper, not over tall, the ears set low 

 and containing the greatest number of good 

 sizeable ears of the best quality; let it dry 

 speedily, and from the corn gathered as last 

 described, plant your main crop, and if any 

 hills should be missing, replant from that 

 first gathered, which will cause the crop to 

 ripen more regular than is common, whicli is 

 a great benefit. The above method I have 

 practised many years, and am satisfied it lias 

 increased the quantity and improved the 

 quality of my crops, beyond what any person 

 would imngine who has not tried the experi- 

 ment. Tlie distance of planting corn, and 

 number of grains in a hill, are matters many 

 diflbr in ; pcrliaps diiTcrent soils may require 

 9. difierence in both these respects; but in 

 ^yery kind of soil I have tried, I find planting 



the rows six feet asunder each way, as near 

 at right angles as may be, and leaving not 

 more than tour stalks in a hill, produces the 

 best crop. The common method of saving 

 seed corn by taking ears from the heap, or 

 crib, is attended with two disadvantages; 

 one is, the taking the largest ears, which have 

 generally grown but one on a stalk ; this 

 lessons the production. The other is, taking 

 ears that have ripened at different times, 

 which causes the production to do the same. 

 A striking instance of plants being natural- 

 ized, happened by Colonel Matlack sending 

 some water-melon seed from Georgia, which 

 he informed me by letter were of a superior 

 quality. Knowing seed from vegetables which 

 had grown in more southern climates required 

 a longer summer than what grew here, I 

 gave them the most favorable situation, and 

 used glasses to bring them forward, yet very 

 few ripened to perfection ; but finding them 

 to be as excellent in quality as described, I 

 saved seed from those first ripe ; and by con- 

 tinuing that practice four or five years, they 

 became as early water-melons as I ever had. 

 Many admit the above errors from foreign 

 flax seed producing the best flax in Ireland ; 

 but when it is considered that it is the bark^ 

 of the stalk only that is used in Ireland, which 

 is in the best perfection before the seed is 

 ripe, and that part not used from any other 

 plant except hemp, the argument falls to the 

 ground when applied to other vegetables. 

 For many years past I have renewed the 

 whole seed of my winter grain, from a single 

 plant which I have observed to be more pro- 

 ductive, and of better quality l!han the rest, 

 which I am satisfied has been of great use, 

 and I am fully of opinion, that all kinds of ^ 

 garden vegetables may be improved by the 

 foregoing methods, particular care being taken ■ 

 that different kinds of tlie same species of ^ 

 vegetables are not in bloom at the same time • 

 near together, as by tliat happening, they, 

 mix, degenerate, and each kind is injured. 

 I am sensible the foregoing will meet with 

 great opposition and contradiction, but as an. 

 experiment is safe and easy. I hope it will' 

 induce persons of more leisure, ability, and. 

 observation than myself, to make trial, as a. 

 mean of improving the agriculture of our' 

 country, which is the sincere wish of thy 

 friend. 



Joseph Cooper. 



[Our correspondent who furnished the^ 

 above will oblige by calling at our office at 

 his convenience.] 



The first principle of good speaking nnd 

 writing, is good thinking. 



Visionary minds swarm with impracticable- 

 projects. 



