The Canadian Horticulturist. 43 



THE VITALITY OF SEEDS. 



|EW things are more vexatious to the tiller of the soil than the failure to 

 grow of carefully sown seeds. 



Experimenting gardeners seldom meet with disappointment in this way, 

 because when they have any suspicion as to the quality of the seed they test it 

 before sowing for crop. 



Many dealers in seeds, as well as inexperienced cultivators, seem to have but 

 vague ideas as to the length of time various seeds will retain their vitality. 1 

 once had the audacity to ask a country store-keeper, a familiar friend of my own, 

 how he disposed of his surplus garden seeds ; his reply was that those in bulk 

 were generally mixed with the new stock, and those in packages, unsold, were 

 returned to the wholesale dealer, and that he supposed this was the general 

 practice throughout the country. 



Professional seedsmen, who have served a regular apprenticeship at the busi- 

 ness, are educated in the belief that honesty is the best policy. No publicly- 

 known seedsman would sacrifice his reputation for the paltry sum he might be 

 able to gain by selling a parcel of seed which he knew to be worthless. Our 

 professional seedsmen as a class are entitled to our praise for their integrity and 

 uprightness. They cannot, in any way, be held accountable for the transactions 

 of some retail dealers, who have little knowledge of the evil consequences of 

 selling old or injured seeds, nor for the rascally deeds of the itinerent scamps 

 who live and make riches by swindling the agricultural community. 



If buyers would order direct from responsible seedsmen there would seldom, 

 if ever, be any cause for complaint about bad seeds. 



Some seeds, such as purslane, plantane, burdock, red-root and pig-weed have 

 much more vitality than some gardeners wish they had. It is said by some that 

 wild mustard seed never dies. I know it keeps well under almost any 

 circumstances. 



Oily seeds, such as those of turnips, cabbages, rape and radishes, retain their 

 vitality for many years if properly cared for. Yet cauliflower seed is very 

 uncertain after it is more than a year old, and, even if old seed does germinate, 

 the plants are apt to be feeble. 



Two-year-old carrot, parsnips, celery, onion and salsify seeds are worthless, 

 except to fraudulent vendors, who offer cheap seeds for sale. 



All kinds of beet seeds retain their vitality for more than one year, but their 

 thick covering becomes so hard and tough with age they will not germinate when 

 old, except under very favorable circumstances. 



Some kinds of pears and beans, if kept under favorable conditions, will 

 germinate when very old. 



Melon, cucumber and squash seeds may be preserved in good condition for 

 many years, but often their vitality is injured by exposure to hard frost. 



Some flower seeds are remarkably tenacious, for instance that of the Iceland 



