SEEDS AND SEED RAISING. 89 



CHAPTER XI. 

 SEEDS AND SEED RAISING. 



If there is one thing of paramount importance in veg- 

 etable gardening it is purity of seed ; and for this reason 

 the seed offered by seedsmen should be tested not only 

 for its germinating qualities, but for its genuineness of 

 kind. The test of germination is easy enough, and there 

 is rarely any trouble with that ; but to be certain that 

 the variety is true to its kind, is a matter requiring time 

 and a knowledge of varieties. 



In our own practice no important seeds, such as Melons, 

 Cucumbers, Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Lettuce, Celery, Rad- 

 ishes or Beets, are ever sold until tested in our Trial 

 Grounds, consequently they are never sold until they are 

 a year old, or after we have had an opportunity to prove, 

 beyond any question, that they are genuine or true to their 

 kinds. But as all these seeds are just as good four or 

 five years old some of them really better this want of 

 "freshness," as some might term it, is no disadvantage 

 whatever. It is quite a common practice for market 

 gardeners to purchase from us, when they are pleased 

 with some special strain of seed, as much of it as they 

 will use for three years, so as to be certain beyond doubt 

 that they have the kind they want. 



Thirty years ago the market gardeners grew nearly all 

 their own seeds, as in those days we had hardly any 

 seedsmen that knew anything about varieties, and conse- 

 quently the market gardeners dared not risk their crops 

 in buying from them. I remember on one occasion the 

 seed crop of our indispensable Wakefield Cabbage failed 

 with nearly all of us. There was only one man among 

 us who had had foresight enough to have a two years' 

 supply ; I offered him 850 per pound, but could not pro- 



