200 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



instances grow, but will be likely to produce inferior plants and 

 seed, while with the same soil and cultivation the best and most 

 perfect seed will be sure to produce the largest and best crop. 



The maxim " that like produces like " is certainly true in re- 

 gard to cultivated plants, as well as in the breeding of animals, 

 where the varieties of the same species are not exposed to mix- 

 ture by accidental hybridization. 



In planting seeds, certain conditions of the same are necessary, 

 a certain degree of warmth, moisture, and some exposure to the 

 air, according to the wants of the different species of plants, are 

 necessary to produce vegetation. To produce this in its great- 

 est perfection, a seed must be buried in the soil only to a proper 

 depth ; small seeds are frequently destroyed by too deep plant- 

 ing ; the air, moisture and warmth act on the outer covering, 

 the whole seed swells, and some change takes place within the 

 seed, by which its substance is changed and prepared to nourish 

 the swelling germ. The first shoot which appears from a seed 

 is a small delicate root ; this always grows down, while a stalk 

 shoots up towards the surface, and bursts forth from the ground 

 and forms a plant. 



These little roots which start first and penetrate downwards, 

 as we have before said, are very delicate and tender ; they have 

 gone in search of food for the young embryo plant, and to pro- 

 duce vigorous and healthy plants, must come in contact at once 

 in the soil with proper food for its nourishment. If this food is 

 not there, or in such a condition that the plant cannot feed upon 

 it, the plant will perish ; if there in insufficient quantities, it can. 

 only produce a half-starved plant ; and even if there in abun- 

 dance with the soil not thoroughly pulverized and still full of 

 hard lumps, the plants cannot arrive to perfection. 



This again illustrates the necessity of thorough preparation of 

 the soil previous to planting. 



It is undoubtedly better to plant the seed of all the grains, 

 and also the root crops in drills or hills, as it leaves them in a 

 more favorable condition to weed, hoe and cultivate than if sown 

 broadcast ; the English generally, and the Americans, to some 

 extent, drill-in their wheat, and also hoe and weed it where they 

 give it the highest cultivation ; by this process they save enough 

 seed to pay the extra expense of drilling machines, and also in- 

 crease their crop ; the grain stands better, the air circulates 



