THE HEART OF THE YEAR 



to germinate well than seed saved at home, because July 

 it has. been harvested under the eyes of experts, and 

 stored under conditions which have been found to be 

 the best after long years of experience. With regard 

 to the second question, amateur seed savers do not 

 often save seed from the best examples, and the strain 

 deteriorates under their hands. This is a matter of 

 simple fact. How would an amateur proceed in the 

 saving of seeds of Ten-week Stocks, for example ? 



I am against the home-saving of seed in the first 

 place, because letting plants form pods shortens their 

 period of beauty ; in the second, because it is not sound 

 economy ; and in the third, because it frequently means 

 degeneration in the following year's crop. It is per- 

 missible in a few cases, such as those of rare plants. 



Gather the Sweet Peas 



Do not save seed, gather the flowers while young. In 

 particular gather the Sweet Peas. Pluck some every day, 

 and see that no seed pod forms. Sweet Peas are secretive 

 and swift in their loves. Have you discovered their sly 

 way of self-fertilising themselves before opening ? They 

 mate in the buds; it is child love. And how quickly 

 seed pods form. You are away for a few days, and on 

 your return, lo ! the cunning flowers have already rushed 

 into pod. Of a surety Sweet Peas need watching. I 

 prefer to see inexperienced gatherers work with scissors 

 than with bare fingers, because plucking often means 

 broken stems, and even torn-up plants. There is, how- 

 ever, a way of gathering Sweet Peas without cutting that 

 is both neat and quick. Take the flower-stalk while 

 young between finger and thumb at the base, and give a 

 gentle squeeze and pull simultaneously. If this is done, 

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