SEEDS AND SEED-RAISING. 93 



years old as when fresh, gathered ; but there is a limit 

 to the vitality of seeds, varying much in the different 

 families. 



Among those only safe for two years are : Beans and 

 Peas of all kinds, Peppers, Carrot, Corn, Egg Plant, 

 Okra, Salsify, Thyme, Sage, and Rhubarb. 



Those safe for three years : Asparagus, Endive, Let- 

 tuce, Parsley, Spinach, and Radish. 



Those safe for five years : Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cab- 

 bage, Celery, and Turnip. 



Those possessing the greatest vitality are : Beet, Cu- 

 cumber, Melon, Pumpkin, Squash, and Tomato ; the 

 time ranging from six to ten years. 



Market gardeners find this knowledge very valuable ; 

 for example, in procuring the stock of a seed known to 

 be good, of a variety that does not seed the season it is 

 marketable, such as Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, or 

 Celery, we procure enough to last at least two seasons. 

 The first season only a little is sown, to test the merit of 

 the variety, for we are never incautious enough to risk 

 a full crop with one experiment. If it proves valuable, 

 we have enough in reserve to sow for a full crop, know- 

 ing that it is sure to germinate. This was particularly 

 the case with our New Dwarf Celery. On the recommen- 

 dation of a friend I imported ten pounds of the seed, 

 but, doubtful of l.io w it would suit our market, only as 

 much was sown as would furnish a few hundred plants. 

 These showed so much superiority, in all respects, to 

 the tall varieties that we had been growing, that the 

 following season I put in half my crop with the dwarf 

 seed. The thing was entirely new in our market, and so 

 much superior that it sold for prices that would seem 

 incredible. My ten pound bag was not half exhausted, 

 and the next season I planted my whole crop, fourteen 

 acres, containing nearly half a million roots, and made 



