STARTING PLANTS 137 



unusual for a small, weak plant to produce an extra fine 

 tomato, cucumber, pepper or eggplant. Not individual 

 specimens, but the plant must be regarded as the unit of 

 selection. 



To begin with, the grower should have a very definite 

 idea of what he wants. The market demands should also 

 be known before a given type is decided upon. After a 

 definite conclusion is reached concerning the most desir- 

 able size, shape, color and quality of the product to be 

 grown, the most careful observation is made when the 

 crops are harvested. Here and there will be found plants 

 which approach the ideals of the grower, and they are 

 also vigorous, productive and perhaps free from disease. 

 Such plants are marked and the seed saved in separate 

 packages. The packets are then numbered and small 

 plantings of each made for the next crop. It will be 

 found that some of the selections do not perpetuate their 

 good qualities, while others do. Selections are again 



Fig. 44. Flat of lettuce plants ready for transplanting into the beds. 



made from the best plants of the best lots, and in the 

 course of a few generations a strain of special merit 

 should be developed if the work has been done intelli- 

 gently. Some of the leading greenhouse growers are 

 developing a trade for special strains, though this is 

 seldom, if ever, their motive in breeding better seeds. 



Separate plant houses (Figs. 41 and 42), are almost in- 

 dispensable in large establishments. They make it 



