STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 7]^ 



be kept in any outhouse, well buried in chaff or straw, with a foot 

 or more of it both over and under them, so that the frost ma}* come 

 out graduall}' as warm weather approaches. 



In culling out the inferior roots the greatest care should be exer- 

 cised that none but the very best be set. There is alwa3's a demand 

 in our stock barns for all inferior lots that are not fit for setting, 

 which sometimes are worth nearly as much as the cost of the whole 

 crop. The setting of the roots and care while growing the seeds, is 

 as simple as the growing of a crop of corn or potatoes, and farmers 

 of ordinar}- intelligence will succeed if they put their minds to it. 

 The cleaning of the seed can be done in the fall after the pressing 

 outdoor work is over. 



Ver}' few farmers realize the importance of a good crop of 

 squashes, for aside from its being a health}- article of diet for both man 

 and beast, the seed will often sell for more than the cost of raising 

 the whole crop. Thus while raising seed for market, we are at the 

 same time furnishing our taV)les and stock with an abundance of 

 healthful and nutritious vegetables, without impoverishing the farm. 



Let our Maine farmers consider these ideas, and if the}' do not 

 leel to raise seed for market, they can grow enough for home de- 

 mands. But if thc\- should put hundreds of tons into the markets 

 of our own and other States, we should see the same results as in 

 her other products. They will be sought after above all others. 

 Well ma}' our State feel proud of her motto, " Dirigo," for surely 

 she does direct and lead in many ways. 



PiEKSOX. I have thought considerably about the matter of seeds. 

 Last spring I bought a package of early peas. They were raised in 

 Michigan. When I opened them, I found they had all been injured 

 by the pea wevil. I sowed the package in two rows about 1| rods 

 long. But very few of them came up, owing to the wevil. I found 

 the peas had been sold at the rate of $48 a bushel, which I thought 

 was rather steep for a farmer to pay. It was quite a large package 

 but the peas were few. So it is with packages of seeds ; as ihe 

 paper grows larger, the amount of seeds grows less. It has occurred 

 to me that it is just as easy for every farmer to raise his own vege- 

 table seeds and tubers. He can set the roots in the spring, nutl 

 with a little care raise his seed and not be dependent upon those who 

 raise and put upon the market such inferior seeds at exorl)itant 

 prices. Seeds raised at home are so much better than the seeds in 



