291 



SEMPERYIVUJr. 



it is better to take tliem out of their 

 covering and to render them as clean 

 as possible, by passing them through 

 sieves, with holes sufficiently large 

 to admit the escape of dust, but 

 not of the seeds. Such sieves on a 

 small scale every lady may make 

 for herself, by turning up the edges 

 of a piece of thin j^asteboard cut in 

 a circular form, and piercing the 

 bottom with holes with a large pin 

 or darning-needle. When it is de- 

 termined to separate the seeds from 

 the seed-vessels, instead of putting 

 up the whole together, the vessels, 

 after gathering, may be dried in the 

 sun, when many of the seeds will 

 come out by the expansion of the 

 seed-vessels in the heat, and the 

 remainder can easily be rubbed out. 

 This is the usual practice of nur- 

 serymen. For keeping seeds a lady 

 ought to have a small cabinet, which 

 she might form herself of pasteboard, 

 with as many drawers as there are 

 letters in the alphabet ; and as her 

 seeds are put up in papers, she can 

 tie the packets of each genus by 

 themselves, and put them in the ap- 

 propriate drawer. Where so much 

 trouble cannot be taken, a large 

 brown paper bag, or a canvas bag 

 for each letter of the alphabet, may 

 be substituted. 



The period during which seeds 

 will retain their vegetative powers 

 differs in different families, genera, 

 and even species. Seeds of the 

 RanunculacetB and the Cruciferse 

 will, in general, retain their vitality 

 for several years, in whatever 

 manner they may be kept, provided 

 the situation be not such as will 

 cause them to germinate. On the 

 other hand, seeds of the Capsicum 

 will keep for several years if re- 

 tained in the berry, but will seldom 

 grow the second year when removed 

 from it. As a safe general guide, 

 it may be adopted as a rule, that all 



seeds will keep three years, and 

 grow, provided they are retained in 

 the unopened seed-vessel ; that most 

 seeds, if maturely ripened, and kept 

 in a dry place in close paper packets, 

 will grow the second year ; and that 

 all seeds whatever, whether kept in 

 the seed-vessel, or exposed in opened 

 drawers, like those of the seedsmen, 

 will grow the first year after being 

 gathered. ]\Iignonette seed will keep 

 seven years ; but that of Stocks and 

 Wallflowers will not remain good 

 more than two years, unless kept in 

 the pod. Sweet Peas and Lupines 

 will, with difficulty, keep two years, 

 while the seeds of Prince's Feather, 

 and of Poppies, will keep several 

 years. Larkspur seed will seldom 

 grow after the second or third year. 

 Notwithstanding the length of time 

 which some seeds will keep, it is 

 generally advisable to sow them as 

 soon after they are ripe as practi- 

 cable, as fresh seeds always vegetate 

 much sooner than old ones. 



Sela'go. — Verhenacece. — ;S'. cUs- 

 tans is a pretty little greenhouse 

 plant, very easily cultivated, if it is 

 grown in sandy peat, and plenty of 

 water is given to it in hot weather, 

 not only to the roots, but by sy- 

 ringing it over head. 



Selfheal. — See Prune'lla. 



Semperyi'vum. — CrassuIacecE. — 

 Houseleek. — Succrdent plants, the 

 most beautiful of which are natives 

 of the Canary Islands, and require 

 to be kept in the greenhouse. They 

 should be grown in sandy loam, 

 mixed with lime rubbish, and the 

 pots shoWd be well drained. They 

 require very little water, except 

 when about to flower ; and they are 

 propagated by cuttings, which must 

 be laid to dry for some days before 

 they are planted. When potted, 

 they should neither have any water, 

 nor be covered with a glass ; but 

 they may be plunged into a bed of 



