Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1874 — Saving and Improving Seed. [ARTICLE]

Saving and Improving Seed.

If the average farmer were as careful in saving the seed to be sown for the next year’s crop as he is in the selection of the animals from which he breeds his | stock, we should hear far less of seeds and plants running out than we now do. Seedsmen, as a rule, use the extremest care in growing their seed and selecting as perfect specimens for future planting as possible. In this they have to work to a great disadvantage when many allied species are grown on the same farm. Nevertheless, the seeds saved be reputable seedsmen are far cleaner and t ruer to ; name than those generally saved by the farmer himself. —There is no reason forthis, other than the filet that, unless seeds bought be clean ami true. the buyer goes back to the seed merchant and he in turn holds the seedman himself accountable. 22 If every farmer should use. only ordinary care in the. selection of seeds, there is nodoubt, with the increased care in cultivation that would naturally follow such circumspection, the average yield of our cereals would be doubled in five years; and, since it costs no more to seed, cultivate and prepare for market a full than it does a half crop, it is evident that one-half of the expense of the crop, per bushel. would be saved. -This—be—ing conceded, let us see how we may go about this work for the initial movement. When cleaning the small grains for market, place a sieve in the fan that shall carry over only the largest and plumpest for seed, allowing the clean and merchantable grain to be carried in its natural course. These large kernels of grain mav be stored to be thereafter cleaned and sorted for seed. This may be easily and quickly accomplished by throwing the seed with a scoop from one end of a barn floor to the other a few times. The seed that flies the farthest is the heaviest and best grain. Grass seed may be cleaned by careful sifting and blowing, and flax seed may be cleaned perfectly in the same way. Where the seeds of vegetables are to be raised the varieties should be planted at such distances apart that there is no possibility of their mixing by crossfertilization. As they begin to run to seed the lateral branches may be trimmed off if extra seed is required. Al all events, if the seed from the leader be saved separately it will be found preferable to the rest. Florists are exceedingly careful in this respect when extra size and bloom are expected. If biennials, as beets, turnips, carrots, etc., are to be set out for seed next spring the roots should be selected at gathering time and saved in sand until wanted. In planting cabbage for seed always plant whole heads with the root and select for this purpose none but the largest hard heads. Then proceed as heretofore directed in pruning for extra seed.

Select at digging time the smoothest and fairest potatoes for planting and before winter sets in expose them thoroughly to the light, even to the extent that they become somewhat discolored. Then keep them in a dry place until wanted for planting, and for the seed-crop do not cut the pieces too small. Allow ample sized pieces for the sustenance of the germ until it is able to support itself on its own roots. >The end upon which the most eyes are, or the seed end as it is called, if planted by itself for a series of years will produce a crop earlier than eye’s from the end next the stem. By the careful selection of tubers year byyear from which seed is to be raised a very material improvement of the average quality, quantity and early maturi’y of the yield may be made. When gathering corn, it is very easy, when stripping the husks, if the corn strikes you as being smooth, of good color and sound, to break it with the husk adhering, and, in shoveling from i the wagon sort the reserved ears, to be i afterward re-sorted and traced up for ' seed. By this means, in all the great I coni zone where the corn ripens perfect- , ly, there need be no difficulty about bad I seed and the average yield, always with good cultivation, may’ be very largely increased. The Western Rural believes that the time spent in this direction will be better spent than in any other one direction. Nevertheless, it wijl matter but little how good the seed may be if improved cultivation be not given as well. It is as impossible to cereal crop without high cultivation as it would be to improve our horses, cattle, sheep and hogs or poultry without extra care and feed. X 5 ith indifferent cultivation improvement may be made by careful selection of seed, but good cultivation and good seed are so nearly allied that one naturally follows the other as sunshine follows the shade. In this connection would follow extra selection,.that is, the selection of individual plants to be marketi,for seed from which to build a still higher type; but enough has been said for the present.— Western Rural. -r - e- * A St. Lons man says that it' makes no difference to him whether Columbus or Leif Erickson discovered America so long as motley is so scarce. Who ever heard of a great man whose mother was a fashionable woman?