Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1880 — Testing New Varieties. [ARTICLE]

Testing New Varieties.

Every season several new varieties of fruit, vegetables, or grain are brought oat, with statements of their wonderful yields, and sold at extortionate prices. Not nnfrequently ten dollars is charged for a sickly grape-vine that has been rooted but one season, while from one to five dollars Is asked for a pound of potatoes. New varieties of oom and wheat generally sell for one dollar per pint. A. few years ago the Wild Goose filum was advertised as a very productve variety, that was proof against the attacks of the corcnlio. Many thousands of these trees were sold in this vicinity at a dollar each, and some persons purchased enough to set a considerable orchard, ft is safe to say that not one plum has been raised for every ten trees planted. The career of the ever-bearing strawberry was very similar. As a rule, the nearer an artiole comes to being entirely Worthless, the higher is it extolled and the greater is the price demanded for it. These new candidates for favor, whether planted in the field, garden, or orchard, are always the object of special Interest. They are cared for and treated like sickly infants. No attention is denied them. When the son is hot they are shaded, when the wind blows they are sheltered, when the soil is dry they are watered, and, if thought beneficial, a mulch is applied; the best location and soil are selected for them, the best manure Is obtained, incorporated with the soil, and used as a' topdressing. Their cultivation is never negleoted. A plow will answer to work among the ordinary crops of the farm, but the hand-hoe is employed for cultivating the] high-priced novelties. A potato of a new variety will be out with a penknife into as many pieces as there are eyes, and each, planted in a hill by itself. The sprouts from this potato will receive as "much attention as all those that spring from a bushel of some old variety. It would be strange indeed if potatoes, or for that matter any vegetables, grains, trees, bushes, or vines, planted and tended in the manner just described, were not productive. It would also be strange if the quality of the products was not excellent. Extra culture will show itself in the increased yield and improved quality of the vegetable products,' and it will make out little difference in this respect whether the varieties be old or new. Farmers who pay a dollar for a pound of potatoes or for a pound of seed-corn are naturally desirous of multiplying them as fast as possible. They are generally anxious to nave some seed to dispose of the next season, and to have a considerable amount to plant for themselves. For this.reason they adopt the forcing system and witness the usual results. They are rewarded for their pains by an enormous yield, while the quality of*the products is excellent. It must be admitted, however, that this method of procedure affords no test of the value of the plants cultivated. An old and almost worthless variety of the same plant might, and Srobably would, prove very productive 1 subjected to the same culture. Varieties of plants, to be profitable and worthy of general attention, must be tolerably productive on common soil and under ordinary cultivation. To aso irtain how a new variety of a plant compares with an old one, it is necessary to place both in the same kind of land, at the same time, and to give equal care and attention. In no other manner can the comparative value of plants be tested. If it is desirable, as it generally is, to brmg the yield of the new variety up to the highest point possible, then some old varieties must have equal benefits by way of favorable location, excellent sou, high manuring, and careful cultivation. Most new varieties of plants are not tested in the true sense of the word till after they have been introduced several years. After they have become quite plenty and are sold at about the tome price as old varieties are, they are Slanted mid cultivated in the same way. 'hen, and not till then, are their comparative values known. It is often the ease that some variety chat acquired a marvelbus reputation when it was first brought out is declared to be unworthy of cultivation as soon as it is cultivated in the same way as old varieties are. It is'to be regretted that more sound common sense 'is not employed in the matter of testing new varieties of plants. The amount spent by farmers in obtaining and propagating new varieties of plants is enormous, and in a large proportion of cases no equivalent is received for the money.— Chicago Timet