ABOUT FRUITS, FLOWERS AND FARMING. 197 



grown contiguously, they cannot be kept pure. All cucurbi- 

 taceous plants, such as squashes, pumpkins, melons, 

 rut-umbers, gourds, ett-., will mix and degenerate if planted 

 even in the same garden. Let any one who wishes to see 

 how it is done, watch the bee covering itself with golden 

 pollen as it searches for honey in the cells of the flower, and 

 darting off to another, mingling the fertilizing powder of 

 the two. In a single morning, cucumbers will be mixed 

 with each other, and with canteloupes; squashes will be 

 crossed, and in the next generation will show it. Where 

 the organs of flowers are protected, as in the pea, bean, etc., 

 by a floral envelope, insects do not mix their pollen. I 

 I have never known pure beet seed raised in a private gar- 

 den which had more than the single kind in it or when 

 another garden was near which had other sorts. 



We prefer, generally, northern seeds to those raised 

 elsewhere. A mere change of soil and climate is often 

 advantageous to seeds. But besides this, greater care and 

 skill are usually employed at the north in producing sound 

 and safe seeds. 



We can recommend, from repeated trials, the seeds of 

 Risley, Chatauque county, N. Y., and of Mr. Breck of 

 Boston. Landreth of Philadelphia has a high reputation, 

 but we have been unfortunate in using his seeds very 

 probably from lack of skill. We shall try them again next 

 summer. Our early York cabbages proved to be trifling 

 flower seeds Lima beans were the white Dutch runners. 

 Not one of five of their peas vegetated. The beets were 

 not good seed, and the variety (blood beet) not pure. 

 The experience of others, at this point, is like ours. Unless 

 more care is taken in that establishment their seeds will 

 lose all credit. Their lettuce seed has always proved 

 good, and such others as are easy to raise. 



2. We insert a table, exhibiting the years which different 

 seeds will retain their vitality. 



