ABOUT FRUITS, FLOWERS AND FARMING. 209 



summer, yet we have found that when no more attention is 

 paid than in spring, nine plants are lost out of ten. The 

 reason is obvious. There is no reserved treasure of sap in 

 the root in summer, such as gives it vitality in spring or 

 autumn. If for any reason we must take up a root in 

 summer, let every possible fibre be saved, the plant well 

 watered and sheltered until it begins to grow again. 



RAISING FROM SEED. The origination of new varieties 

 of fruits, flowers and esculent vegetables is one of the 

 greatest rewards of gardening. Almost every seed of the 

 pie-plant will produce a variety. We have thought our- 

 selves repaid for trouble if one in fifty seedling plants were 

 worth saving. It requires a full two years' trial to improve 

 a sort. Of fifty plants, say twenty-five may be rejected 

 peremptorily the first season, the petioles being mere wires. 

 Of the other twenty-five, one or two will give great promise, 

 and the others will be doubtful. Let them be transplanted 

 in the spring of the second season, into very mellow, rich, 

 deep loam, full three feet apart every, way, and here they 

 may stand until the owner is fully satisfied, by the trial of 

 one or more seasons, which are good and which inferior. 

 In marking seedling plants, the cultivator should bear in 

 mind that there are two kinds required, viz. a very early 

 sort, and one for the later and mam supply. If a plant has 

 small stalks, and is late too, reject it of course. If it be 

 very early, it may be valuable even if quite small. Some 

 sorts are fit for plucking five or six weeks before others ; 

 we have a variety which comes forward almost the moment 

 the frost leaves the ground in the spring, or in warm spells 

 in winter. 



In selecting a late sort from your seedlings, several 

 qualities must be consulted. The plant should manifest an 

 indisposition to go to seed ; should be apt to throw out an 

 abundance of leaves, to supply those taken off; the petioles 

 should be large ; the meat rich and substantial. There is 

 great difference between one sort and another in the 



