54 FAMILY RECEIPTS. 



13. ''Different sorts of plants^ intended for the producing 

 of seed, ought not to be suffered to fower together, a caution 

 dcsercing of attention. — In Ray's history of planting we 

 have the following anecdote: One Richard Baal, a 

 gardener at Brentford, sold a great quantity of caiili- 

 tiowcr seed, which he raised in his own garden, to seve- 

 ral gardeners in the suburbs of London, who carefully 

 sowed the seed in good ground, but they produced no- 

 thing but the common long leaf cabbage; for which rea- 

 r-on they complained they were imposed upon, and 

 commenced suit against the aforesaid Baal, in West- 

 minster hall. 



14. "The judge's opinion was, that Baal must return 

 the gardeners their money, and also make good their 

 loss of time and crops. This cheat we ought not to lay 

 to the poor gardener's charge, for it is wholly to be as- 

 cribed to his good plants being impregnated by the 

 common cabbage. 



15. Wherefore, if any one has an excellent cabbage, 

 he ought not to let it flower on the same bed or beside 

 any of an inferior sort, lest the good sort be impregna- 

 ted with the dust (pollen, prepared in the male flower 

 of plants) of the other, and the seeds produce a dege- 

 nerate race." 



16. On the choice of seeds. The way to try the good- 

 ness of seed, says Mr. Cobbett, is this, "Put a small 

 quantity of it in htke-warm water, and let the water be 

 four or five niches deep. A mug or basin will do, but 

 a large glass tumbler is best, for then you can see the 

 bottom as well as the top. 



17. "Some seeds, sucli as those of cabbage, radish, 

 and turnip, will, if good, go to the bottom at once. Cu- 

 cumber, melon, lettuce, endive, and many others, require 

 a few minutes. Parsncp and carrot, and all the winged 

 seeds require to be washed by your fingers in a little 

 water, and well wetted, before you put them into the 

 glass; and the carrot should be rubbed so as to get off 

 part of the hairs, which would otherwise act as the fea- 

 thers do to a duck. 



18. "The seed of the beet and mangel wurtzel are 

 in a case or shell. The rough things that we sow are 



