SEED-SAVING. 25 



from good varieties of compact habit, which themselves bear 

 large, well-formed, and distinctly-coloured flowers. This is the 

 plan adopted by the market-growers who supply Co vent Garden 

 with flowering-plants, as well as by those florists who grow seeds 

 for sale or trade purposes. In this case a house or pit is de- 

 voted to the seed-plants, which are picked out of the entire 

 stock grown, great care being taken in their selection. These 

 plants are set near together, and are crossed by the breeze or 

 by the bees ; and in this way a great variety of very beautiful 

 flowers, scarcely two being exactly alike, may be obtained. 

 Messrs Smith & Sons of Dulwich save from a pound to a 

 pound and a half of Cineraria seed every year, and a propor- 

 tionate quantity of Calceolaria seed. This is considered a 

 large quantity, and several large pits are devoted to the seed- 

 bearing plants ; but then it must be borne in mind that good 

 Cineraria or Calceolaria seed is worth from ;io to ^15 per 

 ounce, and Primula seed even more, if it is known to be saved 

 from a first-class strain. From a houseful of Fuchsias, Mr H. 

 Cannel who is well known for his new varieties of this favourite 

 plant only obtains about a quarter of an ounce of perfect 

 seed, the value of which cannot be calculated, as it is never 

 sold. The seeds of many plants are gathered indiscriminately; 

 but these are principally for the propagation of hedge-plants, 

 such as Hawthorn, Holly, &c., and such forest-trees as Oak, 

 Ash, Sycamore, Pines, Firs, and other Conifers; but in the 

 latter case, care in selecting acorns, keys, or cones, is not to be 

 lightly thought of. 



Many Conifer seeds are now imported from California and 

 other parts of North America, and these imported seeds are by 

 many considered superior to those of home growth (see 

 Conifers). Soft or pulpy fruits, such as Strawberries, Rasp- 

 berries, Blackberries, Gooseberries, Currants, and others of a 

 similar character, are rarely propagated from seed, although 

 one can scarcely imagine such fruits to be perfect, or so near 

 perfection as they might yet be made by cross-breeding and 

 more careful selection. American horticulturists have much 

 improved their native Blackberry both in size, fruitfulness, 

 and flavour, yet we neglect such a wholesome fruit here at 

 home. Keen's Seedling Strawberry was a few years ago con- 

 sidered the best for fruit-growers as a main crop for market, 

 but it is now far surpassed by half-a-dozen others ; and even 

 the antipathy of the delicious!/- flavoured British Queen to 

 some soils might be overcome, one would think, by a little care 

 in cross-breeding, or perhaps raising directly from seed. 



