GENERAL REMARKS. 



Parsnip, Rhubarb, and other light, scale-like seeds, cannot 

 oe safely trusted after they are a year old. 



Beans and Peas of different species, Capsicum, Carrot, 

 Cress, Leek, Nasturtium, Okra, Onion, Salsify, Scorzonera, 

 and small Herb seed in general, may be kept two years. 



Artichoke, Asparagus, Egg-plant, Endive, Fetticus, Let- 

 tuce, Mustard, Parsley, Skirret, and Spinach seed, may with 

 care be preserved three years. 



Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Celery, Kale, Radish, and 

 Turnip seed, will keep four years, if properly attended to. 



Beet, Cucumber, Gourd, Melon, Pumpkin, and Squash, 

 also, Burnet, Chervil, and Sorrel seed, have been known to 

 grow freely when five and even seven years old ; but it is not 

 prudent to venture seed in the garden, of the soundness of 

 which we are not certain. 



In order to put such on their guard as may attempt to raise 

 seed either for their own use or for the market, I would 

 observe that great care is necessary, as it is an indubitable 

 fact, that if seed of similar species be raised near each other, 

 degeneracy will be the consequence ; it is, therefore, difficult 

 for any one man to raise all sorts of seed, good and true to 

 their kind, in any one garden. 



If roots of any kind become defective, they are unfit for 

 seed, as the annexed fact will show. I once planted for seed 

 some beautiful orange-coloured roots of Carrots, but as they 

 had been previously grown with some of a lemon-colour, 

 they produced seed of a mixed and spurious breed ; and as 

 this is not a solitary instance of degeneracy from the like 

 cause, I have come to the conclusion, that as in the animal 

 frame, so it is in the vegetable system disorders very fre- 

 quently lay dormant from one generation to another, and at 

 length break out with all their vigour; I would therefore 

 advise seed growers not to attempt to " bring a clean thing 

 out of an unclean," but if they find a mixture of varieties 

 among their seed roots, to reject the whole, or they will in- 

 fallibly have spurious seed. 



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