192 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



irretrievable. Seed that " won't come " is acknowledged by all 

 to be a nuisance, but it is not so generally known, that seed 

 which will only just come is but little better. Indeed, the prac- 

 tical effect is sometimes worse in the latter case than in the 

 former. A few straggling plants, coming up irregularly, like lag- 

 gard and undisciplined soldiers endeavoring to form a line, is apt 

 to beget a hope, which, however, almost always proves illusory, 

 that the ground will finally become stocked. So between hoping 

 and waiting, the opportunity is lost for replanting. The stand- 

 ing plants show but a puny growth. Their unpromising 

 appearance leads to neglect in cultivation ; weeds take posses- 

 sion of the ground, causing a more diminutive product, and so 

 the whole operation ends in disappointment and perhaps loss. 

 Let all care, then, be taken to get seed that is uniformly plump 

 and sound, such as will not exhaust itself in pushing its germ 

 into sunlight, but waits only the proper conditions to start up 

 into a vigorous and unimpeded growth. 



A marked illustration of the importance of good seed, came 

 within the experience of the writer the past season. 



A plot of ground was prepared, all of it in precisely the same 

 way. In sowing, the seed fell short by some half dozen rows. 

 It being inconvenient to get more of the same seed, the want 

 was supplied from another source, and the sowing finished. In 

 due time the plants on the part first sown, came up with a fine, 

 healthy look, which they kept through the season, m'aking a 

 crop fair in quantity and most excellent in quality, with very 

 few of scullions, although it was the first time the ground had 

 been used for this crop. The appearance of the other part of 

 the plot was in marked contrast to this through the season. 

 But a small portion of the seed came up ; the germination was 

 slow and feeble, the plants through the season seeming to lack 

 vitality. The bulbs were coarse in texture, and the scullions in 

 much larger proportion than the others, making in all not more 

 than half a crop.* 



* To save seed, select the best bulbs ; set them out in April, in rows two and 

 a half feet apart, and one foot apart in the rows. As the plants grow, tie them 

 up to stakes. The seeds ripen in August, when the heads assume a brown 

 color. They should be cut off, thoroughly dried and threshed, when they can 

 be put away for use. 



