SEEDS AND SEEDING 99 



Another way in which gardeners suffer serious 

 loss is by seeds of high purity and vitality failing 

 to come true to type or name. Pew, if any, gar- 

 deners would be able to tell the difference in ap- 

 pearance of the seed of Jersey Wakefield and 

 Charleston Wakefield cabbage, yet these different 

 varieties are distinct and would naturally be 

 selected to meet definite conditions of soil and 

 market. Heavy losses would often be incurred by 

 planting the one instead of the other. At this point 

 the planter is hopelessly at the mercy of the seeds- 

 man, except in so far as he selects and saves his own 

 seed. Purity and vitality may be readily deter- 

 mined with little trouble and expense, but the crop 

 must be grown in most cases before lack of gen- 

 uineness can be discovered. Then, of course, it is 

 too late to remedy the difficulty and serious losses 

 follow. In this connection it should also be re- 

 membered that there are frequently many strains 

 within varieties, themselves peculiarly adapted to 

 certain conditions and making all the difference be- 

 tween splendid profits and probable losses. Care- 

 lessness in handling frequently results in much mix- 

 ing of varieties, which, although each may be good 

 within itself, naturally brings about dissatisfaction 

 and heavy loss. 



For the above reasons seed testing has become a 

 common practice by all progressive gardeners, large 

 or small. As stated before, impurities are not a 

 serious matter in vegetable seeds, but where a pre- 

 liminary examination shows their presence the 

 amount may be determined by weighing out a good- 

 sized sample of the seed in question. The sample 

 should then be spread out on a smooth white sur- 

 face where the impurities can be easily separated 



