SEEDS AND SEED GROWING 97 



attention ; that facilities for harvesting and cleaning are 

 usually meager ; and that most gardeners do not possess 

 the necessary knowledge to grow good seed. 



There is much truth in all of these arguments ; notwith- 

 standing, many expert gardeners grow a large percent- 

 age of their seeds. These men hold that they cannot 

 afford to take chances in buying seeds ; that they know 

 the requirements of their markets and can select seed 

 with this knowledge in view, together with other quali- 

 ties which they regard important; that although their 

 soil and climate may not be ideal for seed production, 

 skillful breeding may produce better seed than is procur- 

 able on the market. In diversified gardening it is seldom 

 practicable to save many seeds, but where only a few special 

 crops are grown it is often highly desirable. Most of the 

 seeds used in vegetable gardening will always be supplied by 

 great seed houses, although there will probably be an in- 

 creased tendency among specialists to grow their own seeds. 



143. Harvesting, cleaning and curing. — Various meth- 

 ods are pursued in the harvesting and cleaning of garden 

 seeds, and further instructions are given in the chapter 

 devoted to the various classes of vegetables. 



Seeds should not be harvested until fully ripe or ma- 

 ture. While this is true, it is equally important to be 

 prompt in gathering' the crop when the proper time has 

 arrived. If sprouting or molding does not occur, the 

 seeds will discolor if left too long on the stalk, and this 

 is always objectionable when they are wanted for com- 

 mercial purposes. Seeds are generally ripe when the 

 pods or seed capsules turn yellow, or the fruits, as toma- 

 toes and melons, lose their firmness. 



Bright, sunny weather should be selected, if possible, 

 for the harvesting of crops which require threshing. The 

 plants should be thoroughly dried before threshing, and 

 it is always better to select days of low humidity for this 

 operation. Whatever the method, whether by flailing or 



