1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 161 



will only save a few of the best specimens of our vegetables 

 for seed, and then set them out, we shall get seed superior 

 to what we can buy at any price. 



The advice ought to be given in this form : Select for 

 seed-stock the choicest specimens which are true to type, of 

 solid texture, of fair size and colored alike. Preserve them 

 in good condition till set out in land suited to the especial 

 crop. If the season is favorable we shall get our seed, but 

 at the cost of so much time and patience that it is doubtful 

 (unless we are to make seed-raising a specialty) whether 

 we could not better afford to buy pedigree seed at a fancy 

 price. I think an illustration will make clear what I mean. 



All of us would describe a typical carrot as one having a 

 thick, symmetrical root rather than a slim or tapering one. 

 I have here several carrots chosen with that definition in 

 mind. 



The first might represent the Guerande carrot. 



The second might represent the Danvers carrot. 



The third might represent the Intermediate carrot. 



The fourth might represent the Improved Orange carrot. 



The fifth might represent the Long Orange carrot. 



Though these specimens probably came from a single 

 package of seed, and though each might to a degree be 

 typical of a class of carrots, yet they are not all of equal 

 value for seed purposes. 



Those of medium length best represent the average speci- 

 mens of the crop, and so from them we should work to most 

 advantage in establishing our strain of seed. 



It is a work of equal difficulty to select specimen beets, 

 parsnips, onions and turnips ; even more the choice of cab- 

 bages and lettuce ; while the raising of cauliflower and celery 

 seed is generally left to experts. 



At the recent Bay State Fair I heard a gentleman remark 

 that a strain of turnip seed that would invariably produce 

 specimens like some on exhil)ition would be worth five dollars 

 a pound, and I could well believe it would. 



I have here a few specimens of onions which were prize- 

 takers at that fair, and show what judges consider good 

 points in onions. 



Our rule about procuring seed resolves itself thus : Buy 



