RIPENING THE SEED 69 



should be arranged together in the respective houses in 

 which they are grown. 



Early in its development, the seed capsule should be 

 supported by ties, which, however, should not bring it 

 into an unnatural position, or press tightly on the part 

 supported. From this time failure may arise from the con- 

 flicting natures of the agents used, or from various causes. 

 Even the production of a fine and seemingly mature fruit 

 is not a certain indication of good seeds, for seed cap- 

 sules have been produced by irritation of the stigmatic 

 surface by grit or dust, but no fertile seeds can be thus 

 produced. On approaching maturity, a tie should be 

 made round the middle of the capsule to prevent loss 

 of seed when the splitting of the capsule takes place, 

 and, when it is thoroughly mature, it should be removed, 

 placed in a flower-pot lined with tissue-paper, and put on 

 a shelf in a dry potting-shed until so thoroughly ripe that 

 the seeds are being shed in the tissue-paper covering. 



At this stage it is possible for the first time to determine 

 whether the seed, or any of it, is good or not. Examina- 

 tion with a strong lens will show whether the minute seeds 

 are good or not by the presence or absence of the embryo 

 in the centre of the elongated covering, which in imper- 

 fectly developed specimens in chaff-like and not thickened 

 in the middle as are good seeds. Where no good seeds are 

 found, it is the custom of some growers to discard it at once, 

 and where but few good seeds appear, attempts are made to 

 discard the chaff and to retain the supposed good ones for 

 sowing. Where space admits, however, especially with the 

 beginner, it would be more prudent to sow a portion of the 

 contents of the capsule, whether supposed to be good or not. 



