OF ROOT CULTIVATION. 27 



1st. That a degenerate stock will, as a rule, result 

 from the employment of degenerate or badly- 

 grown seed. 



2nd. That besides ugly, malformed roots, degene- 

 rated seed does not produce nearly the weight 

 of crop of good seed, under the same circum- 

 stances of growth. 



3rd. That by means of selection we may produce 

 roots that are well-shaped, and have the capa- 

 bilities of affording the best crop. 



4th. That by designedly selecting malformed de- 

 generate roots for seeding, we may produce a 

 seed that will result in as great or greater 

 degeneracy. 



"That these are important conclusions" — Ave quote 

 from the Agricultural Guzette — " few will be disposed 

 to deny. They have most interesting bearings on the 

 subject of vegetable physiology, and consequently 

 should be studied by the farmer." 



It is a practice much to be desired, that not only 

 should a proper choice be made of seeding examples, 

 but that there be a change of situation, and, if 

 possible, a time of storage before being planted 

 for seed. These are all cultivative processes, and 

 to the care with which they are carried out must 

 we look for permanence in our derivative root- 

 crops. 



It cannot be too strongly urged, that, as an efficient 

 sort of root has only been arrived at as the result of 

 great care— that is, by successful breeding,— so every 

 care must be taken for its maintenance. Defect in 



