DETECTING AGE OF SEEDS 17 



is tried." Try to select the variety that will suit your purpose, 

 your soil, and your market. If yellow sweet corn is grown for a 

 market demanding white corn, a great mistake is made. Some 

 markets demand pink-fleshed tomatoes and will hardly take the 

 yellower ones. Do not plant the large potato limas if the small 

 prolific varieties are preferred. Early varieties of potatoes should 

 seldom be grown for winter use. Others keep better. 



In selecting garden seeds consider: earliness, bearing qualities, 



Fig. 10. — Seed companies teat many of their seeds, particularly new varieties, before 

 they are offered to the trade. (U. S. D. A.) 



freedom from disease, endurance of heat or cold weather, freedom 

 from waste in using the product, popularity, keeping qualities, etc. 



Longevity of Seeds. — Old seeds are always less desirable than 

 the fresh stock. Many kinds of seeds deteriorate rapidly with each 

 year of age. Those kinds containing considerable oil in the storage 

 matter are believed to endure less than others. If they are kept 

 in very dry places the germs in seeds will live much longer. 



Detecting Age of Seeds. — Old seeds may often be detected by 

 their dull color or faded appearance. To overcome this appearance 

 2 



