52 BOAKD OF AGKICULTUKE. [Pub. Doc. 



ducted in such a shiftless manner that it is not considered 

 by many on the same business basis as other vocations ; and 

 until these principles are adopted and carried out, it can not 

 stand squarely with other businesses in the community. 



Question. Do you lay stress upon saving your own 

 seeds in any case and for any reason ? 



Mr. Howard. In my own case 1 save the seed from toma- 

 toes and summer squash. 



Question. Lettuce ? 



Mr. Howard. No, sir ; I Avouldn't try on the lettuce. 

 You can buy the California seed, which is fully developed 

 and very nice, for 75 cents to II per pound. 



Question. Cabbage ? 



Mr. Howard. I do not })ractice saving any but those two 

 that I spoke of. Market gardeners who raise cucumbers save 

 their own seed, and a good many save their corn seed. Per- 

 haps I ought to have included corn in that lot. I raise about 

 an acre and a half of sweet corn every year, and that seed I 

 have saved. I found it on the farm when I went there, and 

 it seemed to be a very nice corn, — a strain of Crosby, 

 which, planted any time in May, seems sure to be ready to 

 harvest the second day of August. I can count on finding 

 corn on the second day of August if I plant it any time in 

 May ; don't need to go doAvn to see if it is there beforehand, 

 but go down there and find it. 



Question, Do you save youi' own tomato seed? 



Mr. Howard. Yes, sir. 



Question. What time did you select the fruit for saving 

 the seed, — early, or late V 



Mr. Howard. Just after the first set was formed, — not 

 the very first. Tomatoes are commonly transplanted from 

 the bed. On these i)lants is what is called the bed set, or 

 first set; that seed we do not save, but take the next, which 

 is more perfect in form, or the fruits are more })erfect in 

 form, and they are early enough. "We select from })lants 

 which have the best specimens on them. I usually j)ick out 

 a bushel of the best fruits that I can find on these specimen 

 plants. I go through the fruit several times, sticking up 

 stakes wherever I find a specimen ])lant. I allow several 



