158 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



utmost care, and should be perfect in form, color, quality and 

 time of maturing ; and when planted out for seed, they should 

 be at a sufficient distance from any other variety of the same 

 species as would prevent mixture or crossing. If there is any 

 particular quality you desire to perpetuate or imj^rove, then 

 you must select with direct reference to that point ; for instance, 

 if you have a variety of pease which you desire to increase in 

 size, you will select the largest pods ; if to make them earlier, 

 then select the first that ripens ; plant them ; select the earliest 

 again ; this you may have to do quite a number of times to 

 reach your standard of perfection, which should be high. 



Tliis careful selection is necessary in growing all kinds of 

 seeds, and the grower of seed should remember that all sorts of 

 garden vegetables have, by a long course of cultivation and 

 reproduction from the seed, been changed, and the condition of 

 most of our vegetables is to a large extent artificial ; and being 

 in this condition, their tendency is to return to the wild state ; 

 and therefore to counteract that tendency will require care and 

 selection on our part. We have sometimes thought that some 

 of the seeds desired by farmers might be grown at the Agricul- 

 tural College farm, and made a source of revenue to them, and 

 a benefit to the farming community. We think that it could 

 be done quite profitably if the proper skill and knowledge could 

 be brought into requisition ; and we will conclude by saying, 

 that those who desire a full success cannot be too careful in 

 procuring or growing their seeds. 



George Hill, Chairman. 



MIDDLESEX NORTH. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Beets, — Select a sandy loam, not too light, as nearly level as 

 possible ; spread, as soon as the ground is fit to plough, finely 

 worked stable manure at the rate of ten cords per acre ; plough 

 this in as deeply as may be without disturbing the subsoil, and 

 let the land lie a day to dry ; spread on the furrows about five 

 cords per acre of night soil and muck compost, and plough 

 crosswise. This second ploughing pays admirably ; the most 

 thorough disintegration of the soil is most important. In lay- 

 ing out manure for seed beds, my practice is to spread directly 



