30 



HOME STORAGE— SEED SAVING 



dry place, and so stored as to be in no danger 

 of absorbing odors from vegetables stored 

 nearby. 



Families raising no apples, but having a 

 good storage place, meeting the require- 

 ments as to temperature, will find it advan- 

 tageous to buy a winter's supply in the 

 fall, when prices are low. The cost of pur- 

 chases thus made will be considerably less 

 than if apples are bought as needed during 

 the winter. 



To store, sort apples carefully, removing 

 and using at once all fruit which is bruised 

 or shows signs of decay. The best results 

 are secured by wrapping each apple in half 

 a sheet of newspaper and storing in barrels, 

 boxes, crates or bins. The wrapping pre- 

 vents the apples from touching each other 

 and thus prevents the spread of decay which 

 may start. It also protects the apples from 

 odors if vegetables are stored nearby. Apples 

 absorb odors freely from potatoes, onions, 

 turnips and other vegetables and should never 

 be stored, unwrapped, in the same room with 

 vegetables of any kind. In addition to wrap- 



ping the individual apples it is desirable to 

 line the barrel or other container with a half 

 inch thickness of newspapers, on the bottom 

 and sides, and then cover the top with news- 

 papers and either nail a cover on or tie the 

 papers securely with strings. This will keep 

 odors out. The lining and covering give 

 full protection and make it possible to store 

 apples in the general cellar storage room. 



Remember that the cellar or other place 

 in which they are stored must be cool. A 

 temperature of 32 degrees F. is ideal, and 

 the temperature should not be allowed to go 

 above 40 degrees if it can be held this low. 



Apples may be stored unwrapped in bar- 

 rels, boxes, crates or bins if proper atten- 

 tion is paid to sorting, to providing a cool 

 place for storage and to occasional sort- 

 ing during the winter, for the removal of 

 possible decayed fruit. If any of the fruit 

 in any container is found to have begun 

 to decay all the apples in all the containers 

 should be sorted at once and decaying fruit 

 removed. Apples stored unwrapped must 

 not be kept in the room with vegetables. 



SAVE NEXT YEAR'S SEED FROM THIS YEAR'S GARDEN 



Owners of gardens will find that the saving 

 of seed from this year's gardens will be of 

 great help for next year's planting. While 

 it is more satisfactory, ordinarily, to purchase 

 seed from reliable dealers 

 the increased planting of 

 home gardens, the poor 

 crop of seed, the decrease 

 of foreign importation, 

 the exporting of certain 

 seed to Europe and the 

 use of certain kinds for 

 food have caused a short- 

 age and, as an emergency 

 measure, each gardener 

 should save as much seed 

 as possible. 



Saving of seed is easily 

 done, though it requires 

 care and attention. In 

 saving seed select them 

 from plants of a single 

 variety grown by itself 

 if possible, rather than 

 from plants where more 

 than one variety have 



been planted. Where there are two or 

 more varieties of the same vegetable 

 growing side by side, cross fertilization 

 takes place and standard seed cannot be 

 obtained. It is well to learn all the features 

 which make up the most desirable type of 

 variety of vegetable from which seed is to 

 be saved. Seed saved where it is grown has 



Fig. 10 — In selecting 

 corn to be saved for 

 aeed.clioose the most 

 perfect ears. 



two advantages. For one thing more careful 

 selection can be given than is possible for all 

 seed placed on the market. Another advan- 

 tage is that plants from this seed will succeed 

 best under local conditions. 



Select seed plants which are free from 

 disease, which show a vigorous growth, a 

 good yield and quality, and mature early. 

 Mark selected plants with string. Plants 

 selected for seed should be given especially 

 careful cultivation and 

 e\ery effort should be 

 made to promote their 

 full development. When 

 seed is ripe harvest with 

 care. 



Seed properly stored, 

 Avith the exception of 

 parsnip and onion, 

 should retain vitality 

 from 2 to 5 years. Thus 

 enough seed may be 

 saved from a good crop 

 to tide over the poor 

 years. 



SEED MATURING IN 

 ONE YEAR 



Some of the seed de- 

 sirable for saving be- 

 cause they mature in 

 one year are: 



Beans — Select the best plants and let the 

 pods mature. Pull up plants preferably in 



Fig. 11 — A good way 

 of hanging seed corn 

 to dry. 



