five] ;purcf)aftttg of ^eetis 43 



The prices of one firm will frequently be much 

 higher than those of another equally trustworthy, the 

 difference being caused, in most cases, by the number 

 of seeds in the packets. A few firms now state the 

 number of seeds in their price-lists. This should be- 

 come the general practice. There is manifest in- 

 justice in selling packets containing a quantity which 

 is entirely problematical, and often much below what 

 the purchaser has a right to expect. To advertise 

 seeds much under the usual price and reduce the num- 

 ber accordingly is a common practice. 



It is better to buy a few good seeds, and by care- 

 ful cultivation bring the plants as near perfection as 

 possible, than to buy a quantity of cheap seeds. One 

 can join with a friend or neighbour and thus secure a 

 larger variety at less cost than would otherwise be 

 possible. Generally speaking I think it a great mistake 

 to save one's own seed. Few choice varieties are 

 fixed and so tend to run out in two or three seasons. 

 From fine strains of Asters you may save seed that 

 will give good results the first year, but flowers grown 

 from seed saved from these will show more or less 

 centre, so that fresh seed should be purchased every 

 other year at least. As the bees do not visit the Asters 

 so assiduously as other flowers, they are less given 

 to hybridisation and come quite true from seed; the 

 trouble with them being deterioration. The first 

 flower on the plant is usually the best, and should be 

 reserved for seed by tying a string around it and label- 



