RAISING SEED. 



165 



ing out plants for seed, the earliest, the healthiest and 

 most vigorous growers should be selected. The plants 

 selected should be as nearly perfect as possible, the 

 stalks firm and the leaves near together on the stalk. 

 The leaves should be perfect in size, shape and texture, 

 with small midribs and veins. When the plant blos- 

 soms, carefully and frequently remove all suckers and 

 side shoots, leaving only the large clusters of flowers at 



25. WATKKINU SKT PLANT:- 



the top to produce seed ; also remove two or three of the 

 upper leaves to prevent the plant becoming top-heavy. 

 If the weather is windy and the plant liable to lean, 

 drive a lath near the plant and tie the stalk to it. When 

 it has developed a good head and the earliest seed pods 

 begin to turn brown, pinch off all remaining blossoms 

 and small seed buds, and continue to do so if any blos- 

 soms appear later on. The ideal seed would be taken 



