VITALITY OF SEEDS. 135 



Melon, Musk, from 5 to 10 days. 

 Melon, Water, from 7 to 14 days. 

 Mustard from 3 to 7 days. 

 Onion from 7 to 14 days. 

 Parsley from 18 to 30 days. 

 Parsnip from 7 to 14 days. 

 Peas from 4 to 10 days. 

 Pepper from 7 to 18 days. 

 Pumpkin from 5 to 10 days. 

 Radish from 3 to 5 days. 

 Salsify from 7 to 14 days. 

 Sorrel from 7 to 14 days. 

 Spinach from 7 to 14 days. 

 Squash from 5 to 10 days. 

 Tomato from 6 to 14 days. 

 Turnip from 3 to 5 days. 



VITALITY OF SEEDS. 



In the majority of cases fresh seeds give the best re- 

 sults, that is, when it is desired to produce plants with 

 a strong leaf growth. Naturally, plants from perfectly 

 fresh seeds possess greater vigor, but for plants that it 

 is desired should head, fruit or bulb well, like cabbage, 

 lettuce, cucumber, melon, pumpkin, beet, carrot, onion, 

 radish and turnip, it is preferable to use seeds two or 

 three years old. This applies as well to flowers; seeds 

 two years old tend to produce more double flowers than 

 fresh seeds. Such is the wonderful effect that season- 

 ing or age produces on the life-substance mysteriously 

 bottled up within the seed germ. 



The table which follows, gives the average vitality of 

 the different varieties of vegetable seeds. In nearly all 

 cases if seeds are carefully preserved, the vitality may 

 extend much longer; for instance, it is known of bush 



