THE ADVANTAGES OF CHANGING FARM SEEDS.

Colonist, Volume XIX, Issue 2283, 13 September 1877, Page 4

THE ADVANTAGES OF CHANGING FARM SEEDS.

As simple facts are of great service to the cause of agriculture when proved from repeated experiments, I venture to forward a few that have passed under my own observation with respeofc to the selection''of corn and root seeds. I believe there is no money better laid out on a farm than in good pure seed, as I consider one crop failing from inferior sorts will cause a loss in some instances that would pay for 20 years' seed. For instance, I have seen ten tons difference in a crop of mangels and five tons per aore in a crop of swedes, when both have been a regular crop, but one part of an inferior kind, also one to two quarters of oats per acre difference between selected and unselected seed, and 14 to 20 pounds per sack in weight, besides the difference in money value. I believe great good has resulted from the selection of the various kinds of corn, generally known as " pedigree," or what is grown from a pure stock. It has been my especial study to select certain kinds of corn-and roots, to get a particular description aocording to a certain standard, and by repeated trials I have succeeeded past my most sanguine expectations, sometime* by inoculation, or by taking a specimen plant and growing it for seed. Some years ago I took a Bingle ear of white oats and planted them. In a few years I obtained about 10 quarters, the produce being a very forward kind, good yielders, and weighing great weight, from 45 to 50, in one instance 52£ pounds per bushel, "as shewn at Vienna." Tnese oats have been grown on all soils and situations in England and some parts of Scotland, and in most instances have superseded all other kinds. I continue .to grow the same, and yearly purge them of all degenerated ears. No corn degenerates so quickly as oatß. I have some grown on my farm more than 12 years without change of seed.— -North British Agriculturist.