ful and
successful farmers raise and endeavor to improve their seed from year to
year. This may be done on a small scale as follows:

Select ten good sized, straight rowed, deep-grained ears. Remove the
tips and butts. Shell each ear separately and plant in separate rows,
marked and numbered from one to ten. As soon as the corn in these rows
begins to tassel go through them every few days and remove the tassel
from every stalk that is not forming an ear; so that the pollen or
tassel dust of the barren stalk may not fall on the silks of the
corn-bearing stalks.

At husking time husk and weigh the yield from each row or ear of seed
separately. Missing hills and barren stocks indicate a low vitality in
the seed-ear and also in the crop. Select the seed for the next year
from the rows that yield the largest crop.

The yield of the cotton crop can be increased two fold by gathering the
seed at picking time from only the best fruited stocks.

HEALTH HINTS. Health means a sound mind in a sound body.

"Know thyself", and remember, that "self-preservation is the first law
of nature."

An open window, day and night, is better than an open grave.

"Warm sleeping rooms have killed more people, than ever froze to death."

"A good iron pump, over a well protected well, costs less than a case of
typhoid."

"Wire screens in the windows may keep crape from the door."

"A fly in the milk often means a member of the family in the grave."

Work when you work and rest outstretched, when you rest.

[Illustration: PLANTING SWEET POTATOES
Carriers, Droppers, and Trowelers]

[Illustration: READY FOR A PULL]

[Illustration: DOUBLE SWARM OF BEES]

[Illustration: OAK HILL 1902, LOOKING NORTHWEST]

[Illustration: OAK HILL, 1903, LOOKING NORTH
M. S. Stewart at left, Mary Stewart at right of Supt.]

Avoid all sins of the flesh. Overeating and eating injurious foods or
drinks are responsible for many ills of body and mind.

He who said, "I am the bread of life," said also, "He that eateth me
shall live by me."

Cherish a cheerful, hopeful spirit by reading at least one promise from
the Bible, for meditation, every day. Learn how to look pleasant, even
when you may be feeling otherwise.

Fix the mind on the virtue to be cultivated rather than on the vice to
be overcome.

If the heart action is sometimes weak, avoid all acts of over-exertion
and sleep on the right side. Avoid snoring, by breathing through the
nose.

Sleep