402 



Seeds and Seedage 



good expectation, although it runs in honest samples from 

 75 (or even less) to 95 per cent. In the case of beet and 

 sea-kale, fruits, not seeds, are sown, and each fruit contains 

 one or more seeds: therefore the figures are often above 

 100 per cent. In some years all seeds are much better 

 than in others. In many cases the percentages of germi- 

 nation are increased by cleaning the sample, thereby elimi- 

 nating the weak and light seeds. Varieties of the same 

 species may differ in germinating qualities. 



The longevity of seeds is determined (a) by the species; 

 {1)) by the season in which they are grom; (c) by the way 

 in which they are grown and harvested; (d) by the con-- 

 ditions in which they are kept or stored. The umbellifer- 

 ous seeds (parsnip, celery, carrot) are usually good for 

 only one or two or three years, whereas the cucurbits 

 (pumpkin and squash, melon, cucumber, watermelon), 

 may hold five to ten years. The gardener soon learns by 

 experience what seeds he may safely hold over. In the 

 botanical accounts of the various species, in this book, the 

 usual expectations of longevity are stated. 



2. THE GROWING OF SEEDS 

 The growing of seeds has come to be a business by itself, 

 requiring expert knowledge of soils and climate, and of 

 methods of handling every kind of crop. The demand for 

 seeds is large. Competition is great. The quality con- 

 stantly improves. Plant-breeding has come to be an im- 

 portant factor. Under the present-day conditions, it is 

 only the exception that a man can afford to grow his own 

 seeds. With the development of intensive market-garden- 



