SAVING SEED. 73 



who knows nothing of such matters, but thinks nature 

 should produce plants all as much alike as nickels from 

 the mint. 



CHAPTEE XIII. 

 SAVING SEED. 



Gardening at the present day is quite distinct from 

 that of the past, for, while it has been, from ancient 

 times, termed an art, it may now, in its advanced condi- 

 tion, be termed an art supported, explained and digni- 

 fied by nearly every science, all being called upon to 

 account for the natural phenomena of plant germination, 

 vegetation and maturity. 



Though very few market gardeners are scientific 

 men, still, the progressive one nowadays gives consider- 

 able thought to matters truly scientific. For instance, 

 the chemical results affecting plant development through 

 the application of salts, of potash, soda, and other chem- 

 ical substances used as fertilizers, upon soils of sedi- 

 mentary, drift, or alluvial formation. For example, green 

 sand marly soils, requiring distinct applications from 

 soils of decayed red sandstone, and again, scientific, as 

 respects botanical and physiological differences, plant 

 subsistence, pollination, reversion, etc. 



Systematic results, as affects species, can now gen- 

 erally be accounted for by the thoroughly intelligent 

 student of plant life and culture, and if system is pretty 

 well assured and the causes of such results fairly under- 

 stood, gardening is on the direct road to become a sci- 

 ence, and is certeiin to be so classed by the end of the 

 century, though of course, in its higher walks, having 

 but few practitioners amid the nations of the earth. 



