58 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



species are planted near each other they will cross and 

 produce untrue seed. In this way, it is true, valuable va- 

 rieties often originate, but the chances preponderate that 

 the produce will be worthless. There- can be no cross 

 between a cabbage and a carrot, because they are of totally 

 different races, and there is no similarity ; but all the 

 varieties of cabbage will cross with each other, with Brus- 

 sels sprouts, turnips, and in short with all the others de- 

 scribed under the genus Brassica. So of corn j in a few 

 years the early varieties from the North become so inter- 

 mingled with our own as not to be distinguished. Often 

 three or four varieties of as many colors may be found on 

 one ear when several sorts grow near together. The 

 pollen of one variety is conveyed to the pistil of the 

 other and the result is a hybrid partaking more or less of 

 the character of both parents. The difficulty of keeping 

 seeds pure renders it advisable not to save seeds of two 

 varieties of any species the same year. 



Seeds should stand until perfectly ripe, and should be 

 cut or pulled in dry weather, and dried thoroughly before 

 being threshed. If any moisture then appears, dry them 

 further and store in paper bags, keeping free from vermin 

 and damp. Insects can be kept from most seeds by sprink- 

 ling the paper with spirits of turpentine. Peas and beans 

 when thoroughly dried should be kept in well stopped 

 bottles in which a few drops of spirits of turpentine have 

 been placed. This will destroy the bugs as they hatch. 



The following list of the time seeds keep is from Cob- 

 bett, but with a few exceptions mentioned hereafter, it is 

 always best to sow new seed : 



