70 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. 



[Chap. 



few days will tell you what proportion of your seed 

 is sound. But, there is this to be said that, with 

 strong heat under, and with such complete pro- 

 tection above, seeds may come up that would not 

 come up in the open ground. There may be enough 

 of the germinating principle to cause vegetation in 

 a hot-bed, and not enough to cause it in the open 

 air and cold ground. Therefore I incline to the 

 opinion that we should try seeds as our ancestors 

 tried Witches ; not by fire, but by water ; and that, 

 following up their practice, we should reprobate and 

 destroy all that do not readily sink. 



SAVING AND PRESERVING SEED. 



136. This is a most important branch of the Gar- 

 dener's business. There are rules applicable to 

 particular plants. Those will be given in their pro- 

 per places. It is my business here to speak of such 

 as are applicable to all plants. 



137. First, as to the saving of seed, the trvest 

 plants should be selected ; that is to say, such as 

 one of the most perfect shape and quality. In the 

 Cabbage we seek small stem, well-formed loaf, few 

 spare, or loose, leaves ; in the Turnip, large bulb, 

 small neck, slender-stalked leaves, solid flesh, or 

 pulp ; in the Radish, high colour (if red or scarlet,) 

 small neck, few and short leaves, and long top, 

 the marks of perfection are well known, and none 

 but perfect plants should be saved for seed. The 

 case is somewhat different as to plants, which are 

 some male and others female, but, these present ex- 

 ceptions to be noticed under the names of such plants. 



138. Of plants, the early coming of which is a 

 circumstance of importance, the very earliest should 

 be chosen for seed ; for, they will almost always be 

 i'ound to include the highest degree of perfection in 

 other respects. They should have great pains taken 



