28 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



from frauds and encouraging the improvement in these 

 directions. Something has been done in that Hue by 

 the Experiment Station of North Carolina, and it is 

 to be hoped that much more will be accomplished. 



The length of time that seeds may be stored without 

 loosing their vitality, depends largely upon the variety 

 and the condition in which they are kept. To keep 

 well, seeds should be well matured and preserved in a 

 dry apartment. Much has been said as to the germi- 

 nating power of seeds that have been kept for hun- 

 dreds of years, but these reports lack confirmation by 

 scientific people. Some seeds have been germinated 

 that have been kept dry for thirty and forty years ; 

 and recently, there seems to be a creditable report of 

 some seeds retaining their germinating powers for over 

 a hundred years, but in all of these cases this power 

 had been greatly impaired. A few seeds, such as that 

 of cucumbers, retain their vitality under proper con- 

 ditions for ten years ; other seeds lose their vitality 

 during the first year, under the most favorable con- 

 ditions. 



