44 Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening 



the machine. It has been found by experiment that there 

 is a wide diflerence in the value of the different sizes of 

 seed. If radish seed is taken from a single plant and 

 graded into sizes, the largest will germinate and produce 

 a marketable vegetable first, and nearly all the seed pro- 

 duce good radishes ; the second size seed will mature next 

 and so on until the smallest grade is reached, which will 

 produce radishes last, and then only inferior roots. 



Choosing the varieties. 



In this day of specialization, varieties are almost end- 

 less; new ones are brought to notice daily. Sometimes 

 it seems that the prices paid for these are excessive, es- 

 pecially when there are already first-class vegetables of 

 the same general kind. It is misdirected economy, 

 however, to buy an inferior variety. The difference of a 

 few dollars less at seed-time often works a damage of 

 many times that amount at harvest-time. Nurserymen 

 and seedsmen prefer to destroy inferior seed or culls of 

 varieties they hold in esteem. This is a commendable 

 practice to apply to all varieties by those who grow seed, 

 for inferior seed wastes the time of the person giving atten- 

 tion to it, and damages the reputation of the variety. 



Quantity of seed to sow. 



The following table gives the amount of seed required 

 for an acre, and also the amount to sow on a smaller area. 

 The last colirain is for the convenience of those who do 

 not wish to grow the vegetable for market. A slight ac- 

 quaintance with the seeds will make one aware at once 

 that these figures can only be approximately correct. 



