548 



SEED GROU'ING AS A BUSINESS. 



of the nocturnal but still too evident Mephitis Americana , 

 and well-devised incubators of myriad flies and mos- 

 quitoes. 



A common idea of "cleaning up " is to throw it over 

 the fence. "Out of sight, out of mind." But no less 

 dangerous are the deadly deposits that mold under the 

 shade and protection of the high fence. Sanitary science, 

 aesthetic taste and neighborly courtesy should unite in 

 the crusade against the fence that goes to the ground, 

 preventing the wholesome sweep of the scythe, harbor- 

 ing weeds and vermin, and checking disinfectant cur- 

 rents of air ; and next, all should unite in desiring 

 humane restraint for the big dog that frescoes piazza 

 floors, invades flower beds disastrously, and causes more 

 anxiety and irritation than the old-time foraging hen. 



Civilization has reached a point when no person will 

 tear up decorative plants or commit a nuisance on hand- 

 some private property, but by strange anomaly, thous- 

 ands assume such privileges for their dogs, and resent 

 with animosity the most delicate hint that some peculiar 

 habits of our canine friends (not to mention hydropho- 

 bia) may be annoying, alarming and disagreeable to per- 

 sons who are still the best and most considerate neigh- 

 bors. The principle, " love me, love my dog," has been 

 quite too much presumed upon, as the records of "dog 

 cases " show, and the rambling canine is to-day the main 

 reason for fencing gardens, lawns and semi-detached 

 homes. Therefore, let common sense step in to elimi- 

 nate worthless curs. 



Madison Co., N. Y. L. W. Ledyard. 



SEED GROWING AS A BUSLNESS. 



HEI^E are so many essential 

 things in producing and 

 maintaining a high quality 

 in seeds, that it is necessary 

 to give undivided attention 

 to their production. This 

 fact makes seed growing a 

 business or occupation by 

 itself, which includes plant- 

 ing, cultivating, harvesting, warehousing and selling 

 to the dealer. 



According to my experience in the business, it should 

 be divided into two branches : 



First. The growing and harvesting of the crop. 

 Second. The furnishing of the stock seed and the 

 warehousing when harvested. 



There are several reasons for thus dividing the busi- 

 ness. The land owner is looking for a crop that will 

 pay him best ; he has the land and is ready to perform 

 his part of the labor. But to venture on new and un- 

 tried crops is an experiment that few will make ; there 

 is the seed to be bought from which to produce the crop, 

 and until it has grown he does not know whether it is 

 true to name or not. There is experience needed from 

 the first that, while simple, is yet necessary, and few 

 are disposed to risk the year's income on untried crops. 



But place in his possession the assurance that the 

 crop from the seed furnished will be accepted at a fixed 

 price, and that such experience as he may lack will be 

 given, and he can feel almost as certain of success the first 

 year as he does of his wheat, or corn, or potato crop. 



Another feature : In handling a farm properly there 

 must be a rotation of crops. A field devoted to a crop 

 of seed beans may next be wanted for wheat ; another 

 is unsuitable for beans but is just the place for cabbage, 

 while a neighbor will have one ready for beans 



The warehouseman handles and distributes the stock 

 seeds, overlooks the growth of the crops, receives and 

 cleans them when harvested. It is cooperation that 

 makes possible what cannot otherwise be accom.plished. 



During the past i5 years I have grown at a profit 

 sweet corn, wax beans, tomato, cucumber, radish, melon, 

 squash, onion, parsnip, cabbage and turnip seed. Sev- 

 eral others may be grown here, and I am led to believe 

 there are few localities where so many kinds may be 

 grown in such perfection for seed purposes. Onions, 

 parsnips, carrots and beets may be wintered over with 

 more safety in California than here, and large quanti- 

 ties of those and lettuce seeds are grown there. Still, 

 my experience is, these seeds grown in Michigan give 

 better results than California grown. We cannot now 

 compete in price on cucumber, melon and squash seed 

 with those grown in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, 

 but those grown here are earlier and more desirable. 

 Among the kinds of seeds that will pay best here are 

 some varieties of sweet corn, garden beans, tomato, 

 radish, cabbage and turnip. 



One general rule should govern all attempts at com- 

 mercial seed growing, viz. : Grow the crop for seed pur- 

 poses and for nothing else ; if any incidental advantages 

 may be had, so much the better — for instance, in grow- 

 ing a crop of corn, we have the fodder. If it is desired 

 to grow vegetables for market, as tomatoes, or cabbage, 

 or corn, use them for that purpose ; but if grown for 

 seed, let the crop be used for seed only. 



Crops want cultivation in time ; the right kind of cul- 

 tivation and at the right time. I have seen crops 

 damaged by neglect ; I have seen others damaged by 

 too much cultivation or at the wrong time. 



Among the advantages to be derived from this in- 

 dustry are a greater variety of paying crops to select 

 from in planting our greatly diversified soils, and a 

 home market which is more satisfactory than a distant 

 one. Seed growing is not a fancy and brilliant affair, 

 notwithstanding the beautiful pictures and wonderful 

 descriptions — almost Munchausen like— in seed cata- 

 logues ; neither is it a royal road to fortune ; but it is an 

 occupation that must flourish and continue so long as 

 seeds are used, and when understood aright is both 

 pleasant and profitable — E. M. Haven, before the South 

 Haven and Casco [Michigan] Pomological Society. 



