58 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and plant them ; very little trouble, — I don't mean an ex- 

 tensive amount ; then notice carefully the quality of the stock 

 which you are furnished. Communicate with the seedsman, 

 and find out where you can get the best stock, and, having 

 got it, make him your confidant and tell him what you want, 

 and criticize his seed, if you choose, and in that way get into 

 touch with somebody who will furnish you just the kind of 

 seed you want, and then stick by him. Don't be tempted by 

 a flaming advertisement of the great superiority of something 

 that has never been produced before, but stick to your seeds- 

 man. 



Mr. II. T. Horton (of Rehoboth). Oftentimes a man 

 gets a great deal of satisfaction from saying that he raised 

 that particular seed in addition to hoeing, weeding and all 

 that sort of thing. In that way he gets satisfaction which he 

 wouldn't by buying new seed every year. I want to know 

 whether or not it would be best to advise that man not to 

 attempt that, but to buy new seed each year, — whether he 

 does really get any satisfaction out of it in the end ? 



Mr. Tracy. If you will confine yourself to one line, fix 

 upon one thing that does please you, that is in accordance 

 with your idea, and will breed to that, you will be enabled 

 to get an infinite amount of pleasure out of it, and great 

 comfort. If you experimentalists will get a type in mind 

 which you want to produce, and then breed to it, you will 

 find satisfaction in raising your own seed. Or, if you want 

 to experiment, and all you want to see is a new thing, which 

 is a pleasure and a surprise, and you enjoy it, why you may 

 do so, but it is a loss to the practical seed grower. You can 

 cross any infinite number of things, and some will be curi- 

 ous and will always give pleasure; if you are after that, you 

 can get it through that sort of experimentation. But I was 

 speaking in regard t<> profits on your produce, and then it is 

 best not to experiment. 



Question. You spoke of keeping seed five, ten and fif- 

 teen years. Under what conditions would you keep them ? 



Mr. Tracy. Cool and dry, with as little access of air as 

 possible. It has been found that the two things which cause 



