468 DANGER OP HYBRIDISIN&. 



compost Until they are well covered by it, both externally and 

 internally, and are immediately placed in beds, previously 

 prepared for their reception, at the distance of fifteen or 

 sixteen inches from each other, and so deep in the ground that 

 the upper extremities only appear in sight. They are after- 

 wards regularly watered ; and when they take root, and fresh 

 tops have made some advance in growth, they require but Httle 

 attention. The tops speedily become large, and grow into 

 Strong and luxuriant stalks, the blossoms acquire a size larger 

 than ordinary, and the seed they produce is likewise large and 

 vigorous, and superabundant in quantity. Innumerable roots 

 are thrown out from the incised edges of these plants ; they 

 consequently receive a greater abundance of nourishment, 

 which occasions their luxuriant growth, causes them to yield 

 not only a more than ordinary crop of seed, but also of a 

 superior quality." (Hort. Trans., v. 617.) The operation is 

 performed at the beginning of the dry season. 



Besides "roguing out" (i. e. eradicating) all individuals 

 having the slightest appearance of degeneracy from among the 

 plants iatended for seed, care must be taken that the crop 

 is so far from any other of a similar kind as to incur no risk of 

 being spoiled by the intermixture of its pollen. This 

 substance is conveyed to considerable distances by wind and 

 insects ; and it is scarcely possible to be secure from its influence, 

 if similar crops are cultivated within some miles of each other ; 

 whence we find certain villages, in different parts of Europe, 

 celebrated for the purity of the seed of particular varieties ; 

 this usually happens in consequence of the villagers cultivating 

 that variety and no other, as happens at Castelnaudary with 

 Beet, at Altringham with the Carrot, and in Norfolk with 

 different kinds of Turnip. 



It is, however, to be observed, that the deterioration of seed 

 by bastardisiQg happens to a greater extent to single plants 

 than to large masses of them; and it seldom happens that 

 good seed can be saved in a garden, or near gardens, from a 

 single individual. Solitary specimens of the Turnip, the 

 Cauliflower, and such plants, have been frequently selected on 

 account of their perfect characters, and been carefully planted 



