CHAPTER XVI 

 RAISING STOCK BY PROPAGATION 



Seed. 



IT will be well for us to briefly consider the separate 

 methods by which plants are reproduced, in order that 

 we may learn therefrom how far they may be useful in 

 furnishing, and to what extent they may replace the 

 costly method of buying, in which there is always great 

 risk of a beginner not getting value for his money, and 

 in some cases indulging in bargains where worthless stuff 

 is sold at a low price which is however far above the 

 actual value. If for no other reason, I should advise the 

 amateur to grow most of his own stuff in order to afford 

 him an additional interest, and to imprint his own 

 personality as it were on every feature of his garden. 

 The work of another, no matter how excellent it may 

 be, cannot be viewed with the same impartial admira- 

 tion which would apply to the work of one's own hands, 

 formed after one's own design. The garden may take 

 longer to evolve after this manner, but that surely is 

 not a matter of very great importance. 



Let us, however, turn to the subject of reproduction 

 by seed. This will either have been bought or home 

 saved, presumably from the best sources. The vitality 



of seeds can be seriously impaired by careless storing. 

 136 



