SECT. V. OP PROPAGATION. 61 



well at seven years of age ; but the seeds of r ad- 

 dishes, lettuces and kidney beans, and some others, 

 are not to be depended upon after a year or two ; 

 and though generally speaking the smaller seeds are 

 of the least duration, yet their maintenance of ve- 

 getative power depends much upon the texture of 

 the seed, with respect to its coat, and the oil it con- 

 tains, &c. 



The saving seed by private gardeners, is hardly to 

 be recommended. Things running to seed give a 

 garden a rude appearance, often occupying ground 

 that is wanted, and mrght be used to better purpose ; 

 and the case often is, that seeding plants (in private 

 gardens) are neglected in gome measure, or destroyed 

 by birds, and come to little at last. Perhaps they 

 are not saved from proper plants, It is a particular 

 business to raise seeds for sale, and (generally) they 

 are best had from those whose province it is to deal 

 in them. 



Against our o^n seed, there is this to be observed, 

 that it is a received maxim to procure seeds of escu- 

 lents from a different soil and situation, or at least to 

 change them, as being apt to alter or degenerate, if 

 repeatedly sown in the same place. It is proper, 

 however, for private persons to save seed some- 

 times, in order to secure that of any particular 

 sort, that it is judged may not be got so true and 

 good. Yet here perhaps the busy bee or wind 

 may interfere, and disappoint expectation ; for if 

 there is any thing of the like kind in a neigh- 

 bouring garden, these instruments may carry the 

 Farina of that to our charge, and contaminate it, so 

 as to produce a spurious offspring, which is very fre- 

 quently experienced in the cabbage tribe. Now this 

 cannot in a great degree happen with those who 

 raise seed in extensive pieces of ground occupied 

 with the mine sort of vegetable. 



