HOW TO IMPROVE PLANTS 91 



tend to improve; otherwise, they will tend to become 

 poorer. His land not only should be well fertilized and 

 cultivated, but should be planted to only the choicest 

 seeds, if he would raise the finest crops. The best farmer 

 or gardener is not satisfied with common crops. He 

 aims to raise the best of everything, and to raise it by 

 the best methods. 



QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES. 



1. How can we obtain a new variety of a plant? 



2. How has the large increase in the amount of sugar 

 in sugar beets come about? 



3. Give the reason why the farmer should select his seed 

 corn from the standing corn. 



4. Explain the hill selection of seed potatoes. 



