GARDENING BY MYSELF. 



123 



But generally enough will ripen in hiding 

 places, tucked away out of sight among the 

 foliage, to answer all your needs ; and in the 

 case of sweet peas, the seed is so cheap 

 that even this is of" little consequence. 

 Mignonnette seed you must gather from time 

 to time, choosing those capsules that shew 

 dark grains within their small open mouths. 

 And pansy seed you must watch for, — the 

 seed-vessels burst wide apart almost before 

 the seed is ripe, scattering it hopelessly. 

 Sweet peas have a trick of doing this, too ; 

 and phlox, and balsams ; and some people 

 recommend a httle muslin bag tied round the 

 flower stem, for a seed-catcher. 



In saving the seeds of asters and zinnias, 

 make sure that you go quite down to the 

 bottom of the chaffy cup in which they rest, 

 else you may get only chaff; and let all new- 

 gathered seed he out in some airy shady 

 place to dry a little, before you put it away. 



Whenever you can get ladies' small pru- 

 ning shears or scissors, you will find them of 

 great use in all these clipping operations 



