124 FIRST PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE. 



If a crop from which seed is to be gathered is stored 

 before thoroughly dry in a damp place, it is liable to be- 

 come hot, which destroys in a great degree the germinating 

 power of the seed. Crops from which seed is to be se- 

 cured should be carefully dried, and stored in a dry place. 



Change of Seed. The improved varieties of farm 

 crops of the same kind have been developed by the careful 

 selection of the best seed of these crops grown under the 

 most favorable conditions of climate, season, soil, and man- 

 agement. The natural tendency of the plant, even under 

 favorable conditions, is to go back to its original and in- 

 ferior state ; hence, when the conditions of growth are 

 unfavorable, this tendency is increased. A change of cli- 

 mate, a season too cool or too hot, too dry or too wet, a 

 poor soil, lack of care in cultivation, all aid in increas- 

 ing this backward tendency; the conditions are not per- 

 fect, and the seed, as it is commonly expressed, "runs 

 out," and a change becomes necessary. 



In making the change, seed should never be taken 

 from good to poorer conditions, but rather from poor to 

 good; that is, the seed from crops grown under good 

 conditions of climate, soil, and management will not re- 

 tain their character so well when grown under condi- 

 tions poorer in these respects, while the seed from crops 

 which flourish well under poor conditions are likely to 

 not only retain their character, but improve when changed 

 to good conditions. 



It is also true that seed from crops that do well in rig- 

 orous climates are more likely to improve when brought 

 under more favorable conditions in this respect than 

 when those that do well in a warm climate are brought 



