Checking Growth Stimulates Reproduction

The largest species of reptiles, qnadrupeds and birds are aiready extinct. Of iLose thatremain, whales, elephants, lions and condors are diminishing in number. The iclwoods of California are few indeed. As animáis and vegetables decrease in size.they increase in number. Animalcules and vetetalcules probably outnumber all others. To tLe taunt of an inferior animal that produced several at a Ínter, the lioness could only reply, "One, but a lion." Besides, the periods of growth, rnaturity and gestation are generally mueh greater in giants than in pigmies. Few giants, but inany dwarfs, is the law of uafcure. Again, highly bred and very highly fed domestic animáis frequently fail to reproduce. Entire barienness ia not an unusual result. Moderate feeding sometimes cures this tendency. Bat excessive feeding fits for the butcher instead of the nursery. A manure-heap canrot produce grain. A stall-f ed animal seldom produces young. A field may likewise be so rich In vegetable matter as to produGe a wonderful growth oí straw, but very little grain. A forest oak, chestnut, beech, etc., has but little fruit. But the lowly scrub of the same species is loaded vvith seed. Twist, break, or cripple a hinb of a rapidly growing fruit-tree, and that limb will prematurely produce fruit. Cut down a thrifty burdock or thistle, and the aftergrowth of little sprigs will be covered with seeds. Nature seems todelightin natural srrowth; but when this is checked it seem3 to fear extinction, and prepares to rejuvenate itself in a new erop oL its kind. Therefore an excessively rich soil or an excessively warm and moist season wili not produce the greatest yield of grain. Probably a short drouth, or cool weather at the right time, tends to produce more grain per acre, at least on some boils, than rainy and hot weather. Undoubtedly there are flelds of corn in 1882 with a bet er yield than there would have been with moister weather. Generally this year the reverse of this is true. Vegetable starvation of moisture or nianure certainly does not produce the best crops. But, on the contrary, a plethora of either is not desirable where grain or reproduction is the result sought for. Very few farmers will have animáis or land too fat for reproduction. But that animáis and the soil can be fed with too much rich food is just as true as they can be starved. Therefore the wise farmer should not starve bimself, his family, his animáis, or his farm. Neither should he give either a surf eit of the richest f ood ; f or thia is wasteful;it deranges the true balance of natural forces, creates disease, impotency and premature decay. The golden mean of feeding yourself, your animáis and your land wisely and well preserves the health or the stomach, the land and the pocket. In short, the farmer must atudy his farm, and feed it just enough of that food which it Deeds. Then hi3 granary and his pocket wil! be fllled.