52 SEED. 



The plant developed from the embryo in the 

 seed, will be in all essential particulars like its 

 parent species. 



Unless its nature has been changed by hy- 

 bridising. 



But although it will certainly, under ordinary 

 circumstances, reproduce its species, it will by 

 no means uniformly reproduce the particular 

 variety by which it was borne. 



So that seeds are not the proper means of 

 propagating varieties. 



Nevertheless, in annual or biennial plants, no 

 means can be employed for propagating a 

 variety, except the seeds ; and yet the variety 

 is preserved. 



This is accomplished solely by the great care 

 of the cultivator, and happens thus. 



Although a seed will not absolutely propa- 

 gate the individual, yet as a seed will partake 

 more of the nature of its actual parent than of 

 any thing else, its progeny may be expected, 

 as really happens, to resemble the variety from 

 which it sprung, more than any other variety 

 of its species. 



Provided its purity have not been contami- 

 nated by the intermixture of other varieties. 



Bv a careful eradication of all the varieties 



