70 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



quickly become established, will throw out a good mass of 

 foliage, will burst into flower and the ripe seed follows in 

 due course. In their case it is often a difficult matter to 

 know when to harvest the crop. We know that mature 

 seeds only are of use, and we also know that when 

 maturity is reached the tiny capsules burst open and 

 shed their contents with a rapidity that is most aggra- 

 vating. On our ground we tie inverted paper bags 

 over the heads of the plants just before the seeds seem 

 ripe and, when there is no doubt that they are mature, 

 we pull up the whole plants, hang them up by the roots 

 in a dry shed and, in a day or so, the capsules empty 

 themselves into the paper bags. Of course, the recep- 

 tacles must be tied quite tightly and harvesting can 

 only be done when the produce is dry. 



Onions and potatoes may be propagated by sorting 

 out the smallest specimens from the crops when lifting 

 in the autumn, thoroughly drying them and planting 

 in the next spring. Potato stock requires changing 

 every two or three years ; home grown tubers, therefore, 

 must only be used every alternate year. 



Cucumber and a few other seeds need fertilizing before 

 they are of use. To procure supplies for growing pur- 

 poses is somewhat difficult and should be attempted 

 by the practised hand only. 



Thus it is seen that every allotment-holder and gardener 

 can do much towards raising his own seed supplies. 

 The main rules are: (1) select vigorous plants, (2) wait 

 patiently until the seeds ripen, (3) gather when they are 

 dry, (4) and store in a dry place. 



