276 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Fruit growing is attracting rancli attention, and thns far lias been 

 entirely successful. Peaches and grapes are especially productive. 



There is an ample school fund, and schools are encouraged. I say 

 to every man that has a family, be your own masters, your own lords 

 of creation. You can be, you ought to be ; you owe it to yourselves, 

 and, above all, to your families. I do not advise you to come here. 

 Choose for yourselves ; but go to some new country, and if you are 

 .worth the postage which it takes to carry you thither, you will pro- 

 bably l)ecome the father of a respectable family, and the owner of a 

 pleasant home. If any are desirous of learning more of this country, 

 send stamp and we will cheerfully answer. If any are not able to 

 send stamps, we will answer their letters just as cheerfully, as we have 

 been enabled to make something more than a living in this new 

 country, and can s})are a few stamps without inconvenience. 



Good Seed. 



Mr. L. Herrick, Oberlin, Ohio. — It is stated that corn in New 

 England has given an increased yield on account of the care taken 

 in selecting the most perfect seed ; also large yields of • wheat are 

 secured by selecting the best kernels. Tins I believe is the true prin- 

 ciple, whatever is to be reproduced, whether animal or vegetable. In 

 planting potatoes, my practice has been to select for seed, in part at 

 least, such sizes as I wished to produce, and take my seed only from 

 the product of these. If small potatoes are planted never take seed 

 from them. By continuing this practice a series of years I am fully 

 satisfied that my crops are considerably improved in yield and quality. 

 There is no crop the farmer produces where there has been such a dis- 

 regard of the true principles in the selection of seed as in this ; anji 

 no jcrop has deteriorated into such unsatisfactory results. The fact 

 that a good or even superior crop is sometimes produced from inferior 

 seed is not sufficient to set aside this obviously correct principle. No 

 farmer thinks of selecting little nubbins of corn for seed ; and, if 

 compelled to do so for a season, could not believe it best, though a 

 good crop might result. 



Deep Plowing. 



Mr. C. E. Snow, Hanover, Jackson county, Michigan, speaks of 

 the proneness of mankind to theorize, and he thinks the Farmers' 

 Club recommends methods at times without sufficient foundation. 

 Among these is deep plowing. If the advocates should come out to 



