50 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



could find in a half day's careful search only about 50 melons 

 which were different from the desired type, and with fully 

 75 per cent of the fruit one specimen could not be distin- 

 guished from another. The field yielded over 5,000 pounds 

 of seed, and, though it was grown on contract at a low price, 

 the seed crop was satisfactory to the grower, the seed was 

 profitable to the dealer, and the planter was pleased with the 

 fruit he produced from it. This lot furnished an illustra- 

 tion of the necessity of constantly renewing stocks from pre- 

 potent plants of the right type. The general stock was so 

 good that it was used for subsequent seed crops, no special 

 selection of stock seed being made ; and as a result some 

 years later I saw a crop of the same variety on the same 

 field, and instead of 50 fruits slightly off there were nearer 

 500 more or less different from the " off," and often really 

 more like some other variety. The field was badly blighted 

 and the yield small, so that it was a disappointment to 

 grower ; the seed a loss to the dealer, as it was not readily 

 salable, because of dissatisfaction with the seed grown the 

 year before; and the returns from it most unsatisfactory 

 to the planter. I" think this case shows that it is not only 

 possible but practical to produce seed of high quality in large 

 quantities, and that it pays to do so. I am sure that there 

 is no way in which our horticultural practice can be more 

 profitably modified than in the production and general use 

 of seed of the best quality. In different ways different 

 classes of horticulturists can aid in this work : — 



First, horticultural students, particularly those of our na- 

 tional and State experiment stations. 



Second, the seedsmen, particularly as united in organiza- 

 tion, like the American Seed Trade Association. 



Third, our horticultural press. 



Fourth and last, but by no means least, the practical grow- 

 ers and dealers, whether they be home gardeners, market 

 men or truckers. 



Each of these can help along separate lines. Our horticul- 

 turist can study and classify the possible and profitable varia- 

 tions of each species, such as disease resistance, hardiness, 

 adaptation to different soils and climates, those affecting 



