IV. CULTIVATION IN GENERAL. 



the mortifications like those of having one sort of cab- 

 bage when you expected another, and of having rape 

 when you expected turnips or ruta baga. 



TRUE SEED. 



65. BUT, besides the kind, there is the genuineness to be 

 considered. For instance, you want sugar-loaf cabbage. 

 The seed you sow may be cabbage : it may, too, be sugar- 

 loaf, or more that than any thing else : but, still, it may 

 not be true to its kind. It may have become degenerate j 

 it may have become mixed, or crossed, in generating. And 

 thus, the plants may very much disappoint you. True 

 seed is a great thing ; for, not only the time of the crop 

 coming in -, but the quantity and quality of it greatly de- 

 pend upon the trueness of the seed. You will have plants 

 to be sure j that is to say, you will have something grow j 

 but you will not, if the seed be not true, have the thing 

 you want. 



66. To insure truth in seed, you must, if you purchase, 

 take all the precautions recommended as to sort of seed. 

 It will be seen presently, that, to save true seed yourself, 

 is by no means an easy matter. And, therefore, you must 

 sometimes purchase. Find a seedsman that does not de- 

 ceive you, and stick to him. But, observe, that no 

 seedsman can always be sure. He cannot raise alt his 

 seeds himself. He must trust to others. Of course, he 

 may, himself be deceived. Some kinds of seed will keep 

 good many years j and, therefore, when you find that 



