THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 1 23 



of the eastern seed houses would inculcate that 

 same spirit. It would save the poor worried buyer 

 a lot of trouble. 



" The safest seed house, however, is your own 

 garret. When you raise something which grades 

 high, be sure to save and cure your own seed ; and 

 always try to save an extra supply to provide 

 against the hard luck of a bad season. 



" The seed houses are beginning to realize more 

 and more the necessity of growing some of their 

 seed in the north, under invigorating climatic con- 

 ditions. In comparative experiments I have found 

 that seed from far north gave plants that would 

 make more vigorous growth, yield better quality 

 of garden stuff and resist drouth, frost, and disease 

 better than their southern competitors. Bush beans, 

 for instance, from eastern and from northern seed 

 were planted side by side ; a late frost did not seri- 

 ously injure the one set of plants, but almost totally 

 destroyed the other. 



PLANTS FOR TRANSPLANTING 



" House-raised plants are never so thrifty as 

 those raised in hotbeds and cold frames. In the 

 latter the growth is quicker, more uniform and the 

 process of hardening off can be begun, as it should 

 be, a month after the plants have made their ap- 

 pearance. Cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, egg- 

 plants, and onions go into the hotbed ; lettuce, 

 beets, cabbage, etc., into the cold frame; although 

 all may be planted in the hotbed if necessary. 

 Larger onions can be raised in this way than from 

 the sets, and of far better quality. Prize-taker for 

 fall use, and Red and Yellow Southport for win- 



