30 T R A X S A C T I X S . 



are as liable to propagate their disease, as animals. The preserva- 

 tion of early, large, and perfect seeds is no less important, than that 

 of retaining the most thrifty, and best formed animals. 



A gentleman, in Maryland, gathered the earliest and largest heads 

 of wheat, from a field, and sowed them, gathering the best and earli- 

 est of their produce, and sowing again, and continued the process, 

 three or four years. It now produces heads, that measure, with the 

 beard, ten inches in length, five inches, at least, being covered with 

 grain. This wheat is known by the name of Code wheat, taking the 

 name of the gentleman, who had, by his pains, increased the quan- 

 tity so much, 



A gentleman in Essex county, went through with a similar process, 

 with onion seed, until seed of his raising readily sold for four dollars 

 a pound, while common seed was worth but fifty cents. The great 

 improvement in the crop, from his seed, justified the cultivator, in 

 paying this great price. 



Many farmers are improving their corn crop, by the same method. 

 A careful selection of perfect ears, from the stalks producing two or 

 more ears, will improve the yield. 



A gardener selected a single pod of six beans, from a lot of pole 

 beans, called the Scipios, which usually have but four and five beans 

 in a pod. The selected, true to the spirit of the age, produced not 

 only pods with six beans, but some with seven and eight. These 

 again were planted by themselves, and, this year, have produced pods 

 with nine beans, with good promise of further enlargement. There 

 is hardly a crop, grown on the farm, that cannot be greatly improved, 

 by intelligent husbandry. The educated farmer understands this, 

 and consults his own interest, in producing larger and better crops. 

 In this single item, one may save enough, to make all the difference 

 between a successful farmer, and one who fails in his business. Sci- 

 entific agriculture is the only true economy of farmers. If they will 

 secure this, they will secure their own fortunes. 



We pass to consider its advantages to the community at large. 

 The diff"erent classes of society are mutually dependent. Every use- 

 ful occupation serves every member of society, directly, or indirectly. 

 The agriculturist serves all classes directly. All are more dependent 

 upon him, for the supply of their most pressing necessities, than upon 

 any other calling. Every one is, at once, the patron and the depend- 

 ant of the farmer. Whatever, then, afi"ects his interests, aff'ects the 

 whole community. Make him prosperous, and every other interest 

 prospers with him. 



