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1863. 



HE ILLINOIS FAEMEE. 



is, the seedling crops raised from such ^ed are 

 late and of inferior quality. None but the best 

 and earliest products should be saved for seed, 

 and none picked for family use from that portion 

 allotted for seed ; always selecting the largest and 

 fairest Specimens for planting. In observing this 

 rule, almost every variety of vegetable may be im- 

 proved in quality and product. For instance, in 

 practising upon this principle, for a period of twen- 

 ty years with Lima beans, in saving for seed only 

 such pods as contained the greatest number of 

 beans, we increased the product at least one third. 

 Besides the importance of commencing only with 

 the best kinds and continuing to save only the best 

 specimens for seed, it is also a matter of the first 

 importance that no two varieties of the same fam- 

 ily be permitted to go to seed near each other, for 

 they are sure to mix, and the product almost al- 

 ways proves an inferior quality. Degeneration ig 

 very strikingly apparent from this cause among 

 such vegetables as cabbages, turnips, beets, rad- 

 ishes, and particularly among the vine tribe, such 

 as squashes, melons, cucumbers, &c. 



After vegetables are thus degenerated, it leads 

 to the common idea that they have " run out." 

 There need be no running out, but on the contrary 

 many varieties may be improved by careful and 

 judicious management. Most plants are fertilized 

 through the agency of bees and other winged in- 

 sects, and the winds, and it is almost impossible to 

 grow two or more varieties of the same species in 

 the same garden of ordinary size, without liability 

 to admixture or fertilization. The vine family, 

 such as cucumbers, squashes, &c., belong to that 

 class of plants known botanically as moncEcious, 

 that is having two kinds of blossoms on the same 

 plant, one possessing the stamens and the other 

 the pistils only. These are probably almost always 

 dependent upon the agency of insects to transport 

 the pollen from one to the other to render them 

 fertile, and when two or more varieties are planted, 

 even at a very considerable distance apart, it is 

 impossible to avoid crossing the varieties. Indian 

 corn, though belonging to the same class of plants 

 named above, produces its pollen in great abund- 

 ance on the top of the stalk, and being so extreme- 

 ly light and fine it is wafted by the winds to a 

 great distance, and thus produces mixture. To 

 avoid this in garden vegetables generally, no two 

 varieties of the same species should be permitted 

 to go to seed in any garden of ordinary size. Pro- 

 fessional seedsmen manage to raise different varie- 

 ties of the same seed in different fields, as widely 

 separated as possible. By thus observing these 

 simple rules farmers may keep up a supply of seeds 

 in a pure state. One variety of the same family 

 may be permitted to go to seed this year and an- 

 other the next. Most varieties of seed retain 

 their vitality for two or more years. — Country 

 Gentkman' . . 



— A gentleman at a ladies' fair lately, being 

 solicited to buy something by a fair creature 

 who kept a table, said he wanted to buy what 

 was not for sale, a lock of her hair. She prompt- 

 ly cut off the coveted curl and received the sum 

 asked for it, $100. The purchaser was show- 

 ing the trophy to a friend. "She rather had 

 you," said the friend ; " to my certain knowl- 

 edge she only paid $3 for the whole wig." 



Early Bearing Fruits, 



Odell, Livingston Co., 111., Aug. 18, 1863. 

 M. L. Jhinlap, Editor Illinois Farmer : 



Dear Sir — ^I was greatly interested in your re- 

 marks on early bearing apple trees, in the April 

 number of the Farmer. If dwarf apple tree are 

 not reliable on the prairies why not let us have a 

 full list of these trees. Who cares if they are 2d 

 or 3d rate in quality. It would be a pleasure to ; 

 raise an apple of any rate whatever. I am now 

 aver fifty years old, and have never raised an ap- 

 ple, pear, plum, or cherry. let me have a tree 

 that will bear before I am gone ! Are there not 

 young men, also, who are beginners, who would 

 like to get a few such trees for use till better ones 

 come to bearing ? 



I took your list to the nurseryman forthwith, 

 with light visions of little trees in bearing on my 

 40 next spring. And why not ? Some of them 

 are said to bear at three, others at four, and oth- 

 ers may be, (I don't know,) at five and six years 

 from the graft. And can't I get trees from three 

 to six years old ? 



Now look out for disappointment : "I can't fill 

 your list," says the kind-hearted nurseryman. 

 What! why, I should think every body in this 

 new country would want just such trees. " Yes, 

 but I can't get them. I have just ordered some 

 from a large dealer in Bloomington, but can't get 

 them only as an assortment, if I will order a large 

 lot." I have just made my friend a call. He show- 

 ed me two Keswick Codlins, five years old, two 

 years set, bearing large handsome apples. An- 

 other tree of same age or younger, loaded to its 

 utmost strength with large apples. It bore well, 

 also, last year. It is the Hawthorndon. 



Your list, Keswick Codiin, Cooper's Early White, 

 Yellow Tryestric, Snow, Ramsdell Sweet, and Stan- 

 nard. In the Illustrated Register of Rural Affairs 

 1857, I find the following : Red Astrachan, Saps 

 of Wine, Late Strawberry, Powell, Oldenburgh, 

 Dyer, Porter, Baldwin, Jonathan. Now I hear of 

 the Hawthorndon. I should like to see a full list 

 of these early bearers, with the age at which thef 

 usually bear with the proper culture. What kind 

 of soil and culture would be most favorable. .^ 



The editor^of the Register also says that the Ju- 

 lienne Pear takes the lead for early bearing of aU 

 others. And he adds many others, as early bear- 

 ers: Bartlett, Washington, Dearbon's Seedling, 

 Madeleine, Buffum, Onondaga, Howell, Summer 

 Doyenne, Oswego, Beurre, Passe Colmer, Easter 

 Beurre. Mr. C. D. Bragdon says, "Buffiim doe 



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