332 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



two sorts of seeds, ever keeping prominently in view 

 the selection and all conditions required to grow them, 

 and would exchange, buy or sell of others equally skilled 

 in growing other sorts, very great advantage would be 

 obtained ; the farm crops would be vastly increased, 

 and more profits and less disappointment would be their 

 reward. 



Every one is aware, who knows anything of farm products 

 or of farm economy, that well grown and select seeds pro- 

 duce better and more remunerative crops than ordinary 

 seeds. Good seed of all kinds contain strong germs, and the 

 germs contain the forces transmitted from the plants, from 

 which they have been grown. 



Those who select fruits, vegetables or cereals for seed, 

 know this ; and consequently, nice discrimination is used in 

 the selection. A sample — the standard of excellence of its 

 type — should be kept constantly beforq the eye, as a test- 

 guide to strict selection and foresight; " for as ye sow, so 

 also shall ye reap " holds especially good in seed growing 

 and planting. 



In the selection of the cereals, and especially oats, rye, 

 wheat and barley, sieves should be used, gauged to accurately 

 measure every grain, that Avill assort and hold fast all that 

 are good and reject those that are not well developed and up 

 to the standard. Careful selection of seeds points strongly 

 in the direction of maximum crops to the seed grower, and 

 on his discriminating care depends his success. 



There is a very wide and marked variation existing 

 between plants and seeds of the original or wild types 

 and those of the present high degree of excellence, pro- 

 duced by careful selection accompanied with high cultivation ; 

 for no well-bred seed will produce a maximum plant when 

 but partially fed in an impoverished soil ; neither will a poor 

 seed produce a maximum plant in a generous soil. Hence 

 good selection of seed and orood cultivation should so to- 

 gether to develop the highest degree of excellence in plant- 

 growth. 



It is said there are about seventy species of vegetable 

 seeds grown in the United States, and of the seventy spe- 

 cies, there are upwards of four hundred varieties grown that 



