Propagation 27 



to the parent, or to other varieties already in culti- 

 vation. 



When the fruit is thoroughly ripe the seeds should be 

 washed out of the pulp in water, and may then be sown 

 at once, or first dried, like other seeds, and sown later. 

 There is reason to believe that a larger proportion of the 

 seeds will germinate the first spring after sowing if put in 

 the soil at once, than if dried and kept some time before 

 sowing. By the latter method most of them remain dor- 

 mant during one whole season, germinating the second 

 spring. Unless they are to be sown in very large quanti- 

 ties, gardeners' flats, about two feet square and five or 

 six inches deep, will be found most convenient. The soil 

 used should be rather light and porous, one which will 

 not bake nor pack hard. The seed may be sown in rows 

 two or three inches apart, or broadcast over the surface 

 of the ground. Cover lightly, about one-fourth of an 

 inch deep. The boxes can then be put outside in a pro- 

 tected, shady place, and left till the seeds germinate. 

 If the seeds are the product of crosses or particularly 

 choice selections, so that they need to be kept pure, the 

 flat should be covered with a fine screen to prevent the 

 possibility of birds dropping other seeds into the same 

 box, as might easily happen, especially if the box has been 

 placed under trees to secure the desired shade. The only 

 attention required from this time on is to see that the soil 

 is not allowed to dry out enough to injure the germinating 

 power of the seeds. Weeds should also be pulled out as 

 they appear. As soon as the plants are strong enough to 

 bear handling, they should be potted off or reset in other 

 flats, putting them two or three inches apart each way. 



