26 



be weak and fewer in number. That is to say, by 

 the time the assimilating -organs of the small seed 

 ^become sufficiently strong and numerous to push 

 on the growth of the plant, the large seed will have 

 raised a strong, vigorous plant several inches above 

 the ground. This difference of growth will be 

 perceptible in all the further stages of develop- 

 ment, and the grain produced will also be of the 

 same nature as the seed. 



. The advantages, therefore, which the farmer 

 derives from a judicious selection of seed, will be 

 evident. A crop of rice reaped from one and the 

 same field, exhibits considerable difference in the 

 ^ize of grains, some being larger, some smaller, 

 according to the maturity and the development 

 of the ears. 



. If, then, only the larger and well-developed 

 grains were selected for seed, we could not only 

 secure a harvest showing a pretty uniform size of 

 grain, but by careful cultivation we could obtain 

 grain even of a superior description to the seed 

 sown ; and by further judicious selection from 

 these again, the improvement could be continued. 

 In the general selection of seed for sowing, some 

 regard must be had to the soil and climate. Seed 

 from a poor soil will be found best adapted for a 

 rich soil ; the seed of mountainous districts should 

 be preferred to that of the plains. 



Not less important than the selection of the seed 



