28 breck's new book of flo*weks. 



prefer old seed if it will vegetate, it was put up for sale 

 again. The next year, a gardener inquired for old Cu- 

 cumber seed. He was informed we had some eighteen 

 years old, and if he would test it and report the result, he 

 should be welcome to the seed. He afterwards informed 

 us that he counted out twelve seeds and planted them, and 

 every one vegetated. So I think this seed will be good 

 until it is twenty-one. I once made a trial of Old White 

 Turnij) Radish seed, which is set down in the table as re- 

 taining its vitality four years. We raised a large quantity 

 of this one season, sufficient for our sales for four years. 

 At the expiration of this time there were a few pounds left, 

 which were tied up in a bag, marked old seed, with the 

 year, and shut ujd in a tight bin in a loft. After it had re- 

 mained ten years in confinement, it was taken out to throw 

 away, but I had the curiosity to test its vitality. The re- 

 sult was, every seed vegetated. I might go on and give the 

 result of various experiments made with seeds to test 

 their vitality, but I have given enough to show that no 

 certain rule can be laid down on this subject, as so much 

 depends upon the manner in which the seed was saved, 

 cured, or kept. Flower seeds, like vegetable seeds, vary 

 in the length of time they may be relied upon as good. 

 Balsam seed is good from 6 to 8 years. Larkspur, Pink, 

 and many other seeds will not vegetate freely after the 

 second year ; the same is the case with the Aster. Hol- 

 lyhock seed is good five years ; Gilly-flower seed about the 

 same length of time, and it is said the older it is the bet- 

 ter, if it will vegetate, as it will produce more double- 

 flowers. I should occupy too much space were T to give 

 the result of all the experiments I have made with flower- 

 seeds. I have found by long experience that the only safe 

 course to pursue in relation to seeds is to test all, new 

 and old, before oflering them for sale, by counting out a 

 certain number of seeds, and planting them in pots and 



