CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 2O7 



they consider as important as high fertility and thorough 

 tillage. 



Large size and superior quality count for more than 

 anything else in securing remunerative prices. These 

 objects, therefore, should be paramount in the mind of 

 the grower who would select his own seed. Vigor of 

 stock is also essential, and it may be an advantage to 

 take earliness into consideration. 



Experienced gardeners seem to agree that the best 

 seed is not produced until the plants are at least four 

 years old. ' A greater age is sometimes recommended. 

 The prospective plants for seed production are studied 

 carefully for a season or several seasons, perhaps, and 

 the observant grower finally decides upon certain ones 

 that approach his ideals. They are free from rust, or 

 practically so, the shoots are large and surpass the aver- 

 age plant in number. To be even more accurate, and cer- 

 tain of getting seed from the most prolific plants, some of 

 the most promising specimens may be marked and num- 

 bered and the cuttings of each weighed for a season or 

 two. It is just as important to choose high-grade male 

 plants as it is to choose the best female plants. There 

 may be several female plants to one male and they 

 should be in close proximity to each other to insure thor- 

 ough pollination. A stake should be driven at each plant 

 to serve as a mark the following spring. The spears 

 from all other plants in the field are cut and marketed 

 as usual and only two or three stalks retained on each 

 breeding plant. This limitation of stalks will produce 

 stronger plants and larger seeds. Six to 10 inches of 

 the tops and the ends of the branches should also be cut 

 off to favor the development of better seed on the lower 

 part of the plant, and if there is a profuse setting of ber- 

 ries, it is an advantage to remove some from the extremi- 

 ties of the plant. 



