PRACTICAL INFERENCES. 129 



being utilised for plant-food, while the specially different 

 requirements of different classes of plants obviate the 

 exhaustion of "any one ingredient, and give time for the 

 accumulation of fresh supplies. 



Improvement of Cultivated Plants. This has already 

 been alluded to, but its importance justifies repetition, the 

 more so as to a considerable extent it is a matter that the 

 farmer can do for himself. A series of small experimental 

 plots might well be instituted on every farm. The first 

 and perhaps most general use to which such trial grounds 

 should be put would be to test the quality of purchased 

 seed, and ascertain what proportion might be expected 

 to grow under different conditions. Other experiments 

 should be devoted to the purpose of ascertaining what 

 particular varieties are likely to do best in particular 

 places. The investigator who sets to work to produce 

 really improved varieties, has a more difficult task before 

 him, owing to the number of excellent varieties already in 

 existence. The consequence of this is that much labour 

 and patience must be expended before any real improvement 

 on what is already in existence can be expected, although 

 there is the chance that a real advance may be made alinos^ 

 at once. The large capital employed by the seed-houses in 

 raising and introducing improved varieties real or so- 

 called is, at least, a testimony that the practice is pecu- 

 niarily profitable to the trader, and forms therefore a re- 

 source which the agriculturist might develop for himself to 

 a larger extent than he does. He would reap the advantage 

 on his own farm, even if he lacked the capital and enter- 

 prise requisite to conduct a commercial speculation away 

 from it. 



K 



