CHAP. ITT. SEEDS. 51 



this, it remains to be explained, why even in England, where 

 all the above conditions are realised to perfection, it is still 

 found necessary to import annually at a high price from 

 Germany the seeds of such things as China Asters, Stocks, 

 Balsams, &c., as alone to be depended upon to produce the finest 

 flowers. He furthermore adds, " people complain that flowers 

 originally double by acclimatization eventually become single. 

 I have no hesitation in saying at once that when this occurs 

 the fault is neither in the seed nor in the climate, but in the 

 gardener. There is little doubt that doubleness depends on 

 luxuriance, and the tendency of a plant is to transmit that 

 quality to its descendants, so that if the climate admit of the 

 growth of the plant at all, luxuriance and doubleness are in 

 the hands of the grower." This I cannot let pass without at the 

 same time noticing what is asserted by Dr. Lindley, that 

 doubleness " can scarcely be from excessive vigour, for no one 

 has ever yet obtained a double flower by promoting the health 

 or energy of a species." * 



For successful gardening no point is of more importance than 

 that the seed procured for sowing should be both sound and of 

 the finest kind. The excellence of seed is not to be tested 

 simply by its germinating speedily and abundantly, but rather 

 by the quality of the produce that it yields. Much of his seed 

 the Indian gardener may save far better from his own garden 

 than he can procure it elsewhere. The saving of seed, it is 

 true, involves some little trouble ; but it is well worth it. I 

 therefore here submit a few suggestions I consider essential to 

 be attended to for the purpose. 



1. Small Trees and Flowering Shrubs. The seeds of many of 

 these may be saved at once by merely gathering them when 

 ripe upon the plants, drying them, and storing them away. 

 The seeds of some, however, are exceedingly small and fine, and 

 those of others likewise immediately drop off on becoming ripe; 

 so that unless precaution be taken beforehand they are all sure 

 to be lost. A simple and effectual plan of securing them is to 

 tie a piece of fine muslin round the stem of the seed pods before 

 ripe, so as to enclose them in a little bag, from which when 

 ripe they may be removed at leisure. 



2. Annuals. Perhaps it may be thought needless trouble to 



* * Theory and Practice of Horticulture/ p. 501. 



E 2 



