The selection of seeds is to me the most annoying and perplexing job of the season. The circulars come pouring in, and are filled with the names of new varieties of this and that and the other, each better than any other of its kind, and so very desirable that you are apt to think that you must have a few of the seeds just to try them. Of course, there is occasionally some improvement made in vegetables and plants but it is safe to say that in nineteen cases out of twenty the farmer or the amateur who invests in some new varieties of seeds or plants upon the recommendation of his circular, loses both money and time by the operation. If I should record my own experience in this line during the past twenty-five years, the result would show that I have drawn an occasional prize and a marvelous number of blanks, and some of them very annoying, as well as expensive ones. I will give you a list of such seeds as have proven themselves to be about the best that I can find, after years of experience: Asparagus—Conover’s Colossal. Beets—Early Egyptian for first early; Early Blood Turnip for fall and winter. Carrots—Early Scarlet-Horn. Parsnips—Common Dutch Hollow-crown. Ruta Bagas—American purple top, imp. Turnips—Flat Dutch. Bush Beans—German Dwarf Black Wax. Pole do.—Lima. Cucumbers—White Spine. Cabbage—First Early Jersey Wakefield; Fall and Winter, Prem. Flat Dutch. Celery—Golden Dwarf. Muskmelons—Early White, Japan, and Hackensack. Watermelons—Mountain Sweet. Cauliflower—Early Dwarf, Eurfart. Peas—Extra early Dan O’Rourke, American Wonder, Champion of England. Summer Squash—Round Scallop, American Turban, Hubbard. Lettuce—Curled Simpson and Boston Market. Pepper—Large Bell and Butternosed. Tomato—Trophy and Acme. Sweet Corn—Early Minn., Crosby’s Early, Stowell’s Evergreen. These if planted at same time will give proper succession. Radishes—French Breakfast, and Covent Garden. When we come to the small fruits I will recommend as follows: Strawberries—Wilson’s Albany seedling for main crop. If a few very large ones are wanted try the No. 30, and the Sharpless. With me they are both worthless except for the purpose of producing a few very large berries. To lengthen out the season the Kentucky is the best of any that I know of. Downer’s Prolific is also a fair bearer, of excellent quality. I am constantly trying those of the new varieties that seem to me most likely to do well, but almost invariably lose both time and money. I have some twelve or fifteen varieties of these now on trial, but presume the result with nearly or quite all, will be the same as with hundreds of others I have had during the last twenty-five years, viz., after two or three years of trouble and expense plow them under for manure.