FALLOWING. 103 



In many kinds of plants, such as Indian corn, pump- 

 kins, &;c. the selections may be yearly repeated, with- 

 out much inconvenience. In others, such as wheat, bar 

 ley, &c. yearly selections would be too expensive. In 

 such, let selections be made, say, every eight years ; and 

 from the seeds of the plants thus selected raise a yearly 

 stock, sufficient to serve for seed. The more constantly 

 the selections are made, however, the more valuable the 

 products will be. 



The inferiority of our seed grain, is attributed in a 

 great measure, by a waiter in the Plough Boij^ to the 

 practice of stowing into the barns every sort of agricul- 

 tural produce. On the hay, new wheat, rye, oats, bar- 

 ley, are ail promiscuously piled, and are taken thence 

 to be threshed, as occasion or convenience may dictate. 

 It is known to be impossible to handle corn of any de- 

 scription, after it is ripe and dry, without shaking out 

 and dropping some of the grain. If the wheat be upper- 

 most, straggling seeds will fall among the barle}^ or the 

 rye beneath, and these latter, in their turn, will conta- 

 minate the oats, so that an unmixed sample, fit for seed, 

 can scarce!}^ be produced, under such treatment. 



Grain that is designed for sowing should always be 

 kept well aired ; for, if deprived of air for a considera- 

 ble time, it will not vegetate. Seed recently threshed 

 irom the straw, with a clear and thin skin is best. 



In order to determine the goodness of seed, especial- 

 ly when old, take fifty grains at random from the par- 

 cel ; sov/ them in good mould, at a proper depth, and 

 carefully observe how great a proportion fail of coming 

 up. They may be sowm in a pot, and kept in a warm 

 part of the house, when too early to plant in the open 

 field. This method of determining the"*qua}ity of seed, 

 may save much labor and expense. 



Previous to sowing, seeds should generally be soaked 

 about twelve hours in some fertilizing liquor ; a strong 

 solution of saltpetre, or common salt with lye of wood 

 ashes and old urine is believed to be best ; sowing them 

 immediately after being dried, with a sprinkling of gyp- 

 .«um ; or lime, or ashes, when gypsum is not to be had. 

 This is more particularly necessary when tlie v\^\\i sea- 

 son for sowing has elapsed. 



