THE SEED 19 



garden vegetables in bottles and burying them in 

 the ground about two feet deep; after 20 years, 

 they were taken up and tested for germination, 

 when it was found that nearly as high a degree of 

 vitality was maintained as we commonly get with 

 fresh seeds. 



Moisture is another factor which must be reck- 

 oned with in maintaining the vitality of stored 

 seeds. Seeds that are kept too moist are very likely 

 to develop fungous diseases which may result in the 

 destruction of the germ or embryo. Freezing at 

 such a time, except in case of those seeds which re- 

 quire freezing in order to burst the hard covering, 

 may also destroy the vitality of the seeds. It is 

 highly important, therefore, that seeds like those 

 of the melon should be carefully dried as soon as 

 they are separated from the pulp, and kept in a 

 moderately warm and dry atmosphere until planted. 



The age of the seeds often has much to do with 

 the germinating power. With some species, better 

 results are obtained if the seed is not more than a 

 year old. The onion is a good example of this class, 

 but melons or cucumbers may be grown success- 

 fully from seeds that are five or, in some cases, even 

 ten years old. It is said by successful melon grow- 

 ers, that the best results are usually obtained from 

 seeds which are two or three years old, providing, 

 of course, they have been properly handled. The 

 fresh seeds will often produce the greatest degree 

 of luxuriance of plant and foliage, but the fruiting 

 qualities come with age. It is highly important, 

 therefore, if the melon grower saves his own seeds, 

 which is often the case, to save enough during favor- 

 able seasons to last for a number of years; or, in 



