SEED. 53 



from the neighborhood of that from which seed 

 is to be saved, by taking care that none but the 

 most genuine forms of a variety are preserved 

 as seed-plants ; and by compelling by trans- 

 plantation a plant to expend all its accumulated 

 sap in the nourishment of its seeds, instead of 

 in the superabundant production of foliage, a 

 crop of seed may be procured, the plants pro- 

 duced by which will, in a great measure, have 

 the peculiar properties of the parent variety. 



By a series of progressive seed-savings upon 

 the same plan, plants will be at length obtained, 

 in which the habits of the individual have be- 

 come as it were fixed, and capable of such 

 exact reproduction by seed, so as to form an ex- 

 ception to the general rule ; as in Turnips, 

 Radishes, &c. 



But if the least neglect occurs in taking the 

 necessary precautions to ensure a uniform crop 

 of seed, possessing the new fixed properties, 

 the race becomes deteriorated, in proportion to 

 the want of care that has occurred, and loses 

 its characters of individuality. 



In all varieties those seeds may be expected 



to preserve their individual characters most 



distinctly which have been the best nourished ; 



it is, consequently, those which should be se- 



5* 



