122 FIRST PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE, 





CHAPTER XI. 



The Selection of Seed ; Farm Crops and Their Classification ; 

 Cereals ; Grasses ; Pastures ; Roots ; Tubers ; and Market-gar- 

 den Crops. 



Selection of Seed. — The kind of seed used exercises 

 an important influence upon the yield and quality of the 

 crop, and also saves the farmer losses due to a poor stand. 

 The larger the proportion of living seed true to kind, the 

 greater the chances of a perfect stand and a normal and 

 healthy growth of crop. In the case of the larger seed, 

 as the cereals, it is not so difficult to determine quality 

 as in the case of certain grasses and garden seeds ; here 

 a careful examination and testing are required. 



Good Seed. — The term ** good seed " implies that any 

 given lot should show a large proportion of mature seed, 

 true to kind and variety, and a small proportion of impu- 

 rities and adulterants. "Mature seed" are those that 

 have fully ripened, and are capable of performing well 

 all of the functions of germination ; that is, they are capa- 

 ble of using the food stored up in them, and developing 

 vigorous and healthy young plants. " Immature seed " 

 are those that have not fully developed or ripened, and 

 can only partially perform the functions of germination. 

 The young plant lacks strength and vigor. 



Impurities. — Impurities include all foreign matter, 



