August, I9II 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS ix 
GARDEN NOTES 
This department is conducted by an experienced and practical landscape architect, who extends an invitation to the readers of 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS to send to the Garden Editor inquiries on any matter pertaining to the developing of the 
garden and the home grounds. 
will be published in this department. 
Letters accompanied by return postage will be answered promptly by mail. Replies that are of general benefit 
Saving Vegetable Seeds 
By M. ROBERTS CONOVER 
HE gardener who saves his own seeds 
has a distinct advantage over those 
improvident soil-workers who rely 
solely upon dealers. He can perfect a de- 
sired variety of vegetable, insure the vi- 
tality of the seeds and vouch for their 
purity. 
The work is not difficult, as it merely 
requires vigilance to see that the ripened 
seeds do not escape, and to use care as to 
their proper selection. 
That the seeds may possess full germin- 
ating power, the fruit 
or pod which nour- 
ishes them must be 
allowed to fully ma- 
ture upon the vine. 
Always select from 
the finest specimens 
as to form and flavor 
so as to insure these 
characteristics in suc- 
cessive crops. 
A difficulty which 
confronts the gar- 
dener whose _ vege- 
tables are close to- 
gether in the small 
garden plot is that of 
crossing kindred 
species of vegetables 
which borrow. one 
another’s characteristics. It is very annoy- 
ing to harvest watermelons and to discover 
that the “hard-head” or preserving citron 
which grew near the parent melon the 
previous year has influenced its character 
and flavor. It is equally vexing to have 
some of your summer crook-necked squash 
sharing the traits of the Boston marrow 
The seeds of all pulpy and marrow vegetables are loosened from the 
core by decay 
squash, or the latter mottling with the 
green of the Hubbard squash, which was 
a close neighbor last season. 
The seeds of squash, cucumber and 
melons cannot be relied upon for purity 
if grown near one another. 
Of course, this “mixing” is very notice- 
able among different varieties of the same 
vegetable if they are planted in proximity. 
The only preventive is to plant similar 
vegetables from which the seeds are to be 
saved as remote as possible, and with in- 
tervening space occupied by unrelated 
vegetables. 
To preserve the seeds, they must be sep- 
arated from the fruit, cleaned, dried and 
stored in a dry place where mice cannot 
reach them. Tin cans with tight covers 
make excellent receptacles for seeds. 
With pulp or marrow vegetables the 
freeing of the seeds from the pulp may be 
entrusted to the natural process of decay, 
the seeds being secured as soon as the pulp 
Tin cans with tight covers make excellent receptacles if the seeds are 
thoroughly dried 
has entirely ceased to adhere to them. 
In the case of cucumbers which are eaten 
in the green state, the fruit must be al- 
lowed full growth and be allowed to turn 
yellow in the sun. They are then removed 
from the vine and laid aside until they 
soften, when the core and seeds are scraped 
out into a _ receptacle. With melons, 
squash, tomatoes, 
etc., the seeds are 
taken when the vege- 
table is in its most 
edible state. 
After the seeds of 
these vegetables are 
removed they are 
washed in lukewarm 
water and_ rubbed 
gently between the 
hands to loosen the 
adhesive pieces of the 
core. After several 
washings, they may 
be laid upon a frame 
of small-meshed wire 
and dried quickly 
near the fire. Leav- 
ing them warm and 
moist, however, would cause them to sprout. 
When thoroughly dry, a shaking in a 
draught of air will remove any particles of 
dried core remaining. 
In the case of tomato seeds which sepa- 
rate from the core with great difficulty, the 
former and the pulp may be placed in a 
muslin bag and allowed to ferment slightly, 
with the result that the pulp will be easily 
washed away. At this stage it is very con- 
MOW YOUR HEDGE 
IN 1-5 THE TIME 
Cutting it takes too long. 
ou can mow a 13-inch 
swath easily, quickly, with 
The UNIQUE 
HEDGE TRIMMER 
Every movement counts ! 
Hedge contractors can quad- 
ruple their wages and profits. 
orkmanship and material 
indefinitely guaranteed. 
Sent Prepaid 
on Receipt of $5.00 
If not satisfactory after one week's trial, can be retuned. 
Write for booklet 
) Fountain Cutlery Co., (eee atest 
Refer to any bank in Philadelphia 
Can be 
Used in 
House and 
For flowers 
and vegetables. 
Used as a spray. 
Get it from 
your dealer or 
write for par- 
ticulars to 
Aphine Manufacturing Ccmpany, Madison, N.J. 
SHEEP MANURE 
Dried and pulverized. No waste and no 
weeds’ Best fertilizer for lawns—gardens— 
trees—shrubs—vegetables and fruit. 
$4 00 Large barrel, freight prepaid East of 
C Missouri River—Cash with order. 
Write for interesting booklet and quantity 
prices. 
THE PULVERIZED MANURE CO. 
21 Union Stock Yards Chicago, Ill. 
MOLES srevwnie Bean 
Send 25 cents for enough beans for small lawn or garden, 
or $1.00 for carton containing over 500 beans. 
BROWNIE CHEMICAL CO., Bound Brook, N. J 
SAVE They are too precious to lose. Get expert tree surgeons 
to examine them and advise you as to what they need. 
YOU Avoid tree fakers and tree butchers, Our free booklets 
explain tree surgery, the science founded by John Davey. 
TREE Write forthem. The Davey Tree Expert Co., Inc., 
128 Ash Street, Kent, Ohio 
“Farr’s Hardy Plants”—A book 
that tells about the wonderful Irises, Peonies, Poppies and 
Sas! Anemones that have made Wyomissing famous, besides nunier- 
ous other garden treasures. More than a mere catalogue—Free. 
Bertrand H. Farr, Wyomissing Nurseries. 643 E Pern St., Reading, Pa.) & 
Have a fine 
Lawn by sowing 
Renew Your Lawn Now. 
uy KALAKA inxs 
Comes up like magic. Al) it needs is soil—moisture. Ide 
new Lawn, Terraces or to renew old areas. Grass seed ands 
concentrated animal manure. Results quick, sure. Cheaper 
further than ordinary seed. Try it. 5-lb. box for $1.00, ex S 
prepaid East of Missouri River. Write for free booklet, ‘‘ How 
to Make a Lawn."’ 
The Kalaka Co., 825 Exchange Ave., Chicago, Ill. 
Don’t Kill All the Grass 
on your lawn, but kill each husky weed with a Deadly 
Dandelion Pill applied with a 'Jabstick."" No backache. 
500 Pills and “Jabstick” Prepaid $1.00 
Money back if you are not satished. 
WILLIAM A. SPINKS & CO., 362 West Erie St., CHICAGO 
-For Indoor Plants 
,, We want every lover of plants 
\“ Ma eR see this flower ere and 
— OR look at it twice—three times 
séNO E Nala be better. Not a squirter; 
IRoyLs8 Benores for indoor and veranda 
4 use pray reaches garden 
} $1,00 postpaid plants under and over the leaves 
Price includes two extra bulbs 4ft high. A lecture “Success 
and a cake of tohacco soap with Flowers’ in printed torm 
sent free to everybody. Exclusive agencies given in every town. 
THE H. LENOX SPRAYER CO. 
165 West 23rd Street New York 
