60 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



Mixing Varieties. — Practically, varieties of plants can be 

 mixed only in the blossom: and in order to mix, the different 

 varieties must both be in blossom at the same time. On this 

 account potatoes do not mix in the hill. The varieties of 

 some species of plants are much inclined to mix. Any two 

 varieties of corn, melons, squashes and cucumbers are especial- 

 ly liable to be crossed if growing in the same field and in 

 flower at the same time. However, two kinds of corn, of beans 

 and of other plants may be grown on adjoining pieces of 

 land without danger of mixing, providing that they are not in 

 flower at the same time: e. g., Cory and Evergreen sweet corn 

 if planted at the same time may be grown for seed close to- 

 gether and will not mix. since the Cory would be entirely out 

 of flower when the Evergreen came into flower. 



Distance between Varieties. — The distance which should inter- 

 vene between varieties liable to mix is variously estimated by 

 different growers, and is influenced by various conditions. 

 The pollen of corn, grasses and many other plants is moved 

 by the wind; and when different varieties of corn flowering at 

 the same time are planted for seed there will be more liability 

 of their mixing when the pieces of land on which they grow 

 are in line of the prevailing winds than when east and west of 

 each other. If a grove or hill intervene between varieties, it 

 is a good barrier to crossing. When varieties of each plant 

 are not on a line of prevailing winds, they are reasonably free 

 from mixing if 500 feet apart: otherwise, at least 1000 feet 

 should intervene. 



Such plants as melons, cucumbers, squashes and onions., 

 and most other plants with conspicuous flowers, are pollenized 

 by insects to whose bodies the pollen becomes attached and is 

 carried from one flower to another. This pollen is not light and 

 powdery as in corn and many other plants but is rather heavy. It 

 is obvious then that the direction of the wind has little ef- 

 fect in crossing such plants. It is generally agreed that dif- 

 ferent varieties of plants pollenized by insects should have at 

 least 1000 feet between them to prevent mixing, which will often 

 occur to some extent even with these precautions. The greatest 

 care should be taken to keep stock seed from being mixed. 



