d
out, to send up from twenty to forty stout stems from the root-system of
a single grain of seed. The growing stems become more sturdy, bear
larger heads, heads with more and larger kernels, of heavier, brighter
wheat. With this culture, the yield is increased one-third--many times
one-half--and the quality wonderfully improved. Fully one-half of the
usual quantity of seed is saved.

"By repeating this method for a few years, carefully choosing the seed
for each planting from the best kernels borne by the largest heads, the
ordinary wheat-crop, without extra fertilization, may easily be doubled
two and one-half times; while the quality of the entire crop is raised
to the grade of extra fine, which will readily sell at fancy prices for
seed wheat. The net gain, is a large cash balance in favor of
cultivating a weedless soil. What is true of wheat culture in such
soils, is true in a large measure with most other crops; more especially
with corn, cotton and all kinds of garden crops."

"Stop a moment, Fillmore!

"Did I understand you to say that these immense discs, these mammoth,
weed-scorching mirrors, were made here at Solaris? How can such
expensive things be made, for a price that would allow so many to be
used?"

"Yes, these concentrating mirrors and burning glasses combined, are the
product of the inventive genius and skillful work of our people. A
combination of brain and muscular work so successful, that these discs,
although they are of such great size and weight, are quickly and
cheaply made from thick plates of flat glass, which we manufacture from
our abundant supply of excellent sand! The quality of the glass in these
plates is of the best; clear, soft, and tough, just the kind that will
most readily take the proper concave and convex surfaces, when treated
by the evenly applied heat of swiftly revolving electric brushes. With
plenty of strong machinery to handle these heavy plates, a few skilled
workers, can with ease, soon transform them into perfect, lense-shaped
discs. Similar discs, made by the slow, tedious process of nineteenth
century methods, would cost many thousands of dollars for each one."

"You have answered my question both briefly and perfectly! I recognize
in these great mirrors, a swift, wonder-working agency, that shall make
possible a new system of farming; which means, in the improved
conditions for mankind that must follow, a revolution in social methods,
calculated to bring them