24 SEED-SAVING. 



separate from each other ; and it is a common practice to send 

 the seed to different parts of the country, where it is grown in 

 a field or plot by itself that is quite separate from any other 

 brassicaceous plants, otherwise the variety would become de- 

 teriorated, just as is the case when several kinds of Melons or 

 Cucumbers are grown in the same house or frame. Some- 

 times, however, as is well known, this promiscuous inter- 

 breeding results in producing one or more new forms of even 

 superior quality ; but even this does not compensate .for the 

 loss of a valuable and known strain of uniform quality which 

 is much wanted, and perhaps bespoke or sold while in the 

 seed-beds. Many flower-seeds are grown on the Continent, 

 especially in Germany; indeed the Prussian seed-farms at 

 Erfurt are well known for their excellent strains of Stocks, 

 Primulas, Balsams, Asters, and many other popular flowers. 

 The Erfurt strains of Asters are very fine ; and the seeds of 

 Asters, as well as most other Composites, ripen better under 

 a hotter sun than ours, as they are extremely liable to suffer 

 from dampness in the atmosphere. Good culture, added to 

 careful selection, does much to insure good seeds; and as 

 many plants produce more seeds than they can ripen properly, 

 it is an excellent plan to remove or thin the flower-spikes, or 

 take off their tips when flowering, so as to throw all the vigour 

 of the plant into those that remain. This is often done in the 

 case of Wallflowers, Stocks, Clarkias, and similar plants ; and 

 the result is perfect seeds, which are found to produce finer or 

 a larger proportion of double flowers than those left to chance. 

 In the case of double-flowered plants, if we except Fuchsias, 

 the seed has necessarily to be gathered from either single 

 or only partly double flowers; and it is best to gather the 

 seed of such flowers as are semi-double, as this shows their 

 tendency towards the desired quality. Thus, from the seed- 

 beds of Stocks, all perfectly single varieties are carefully 

 weeded ; and the same is practised in the case of Balsams and 

 other annual plants in which double flowers are most, highly 

 prized. 



We have alluded to the great care necessary to keep any 

 distinct variety pure, or what is technically termed " true to 

 name ; " but in many cases this cannot be done, and then the 

 energy of the cultivator is directed towards obtaining and pre- 

 serving by selection what is called a " good strain." In plants 

 which vary very much from seed, such as Calceolarias, Cine- 

 rarias, Chinese Primulas, Balsams, Zinnias, Asters, and many 

 other annuals, it is impossible to do more than save the seed 



