58 



OF PROPAGATION. 



SECT. V. 



of weather and in feels : for, as the largeft animals pro- 

 duce the _moft profitable flock, fo it is in vegetables; 

 which directs the gardener always to fave feed only 

 from the forwardeft and handfomeft uninjured plants. 

 As in animals the young may be ftunted by bad ma- 

 nagement, and defective food, fo in vegetables, the 

 feed being good will not be alone fufficient, if the foil 

 and culture be not right. 



Commonly fpeaking new feed is to be preferred to 

 old, as growing the more luxuriantly, and coming up 

 the furer and quicker. This circumftanee induces 

 fome private perfons to fave their own feed that they 

 may not be deceived in buying old for new feed ; a trick 

 of trade, it is to be hoped, not praftifed by every 

 feedfman : Yet a little mixture of old feed is fometimes 

 proper, becaufe the new is peihaps cut off, and the old 

 laved, by being a day or two later in coming up. 



It old feed is knowingly fown, fome allowance in 

 point of time muft be made. Peas and beans of two 

 years old, are by fome preferred to new, as not running 

 fo much to ftraw. See cucumbers and melons, feftion 14. 



As to the age of feeds, at which they may be fown 

 and germinate, it is uncertain, and depends very much 

 fcoiv they are preferved. Seeds kept from the air and 

 moifture by being buried deep in the ground will con- 

 tinue a great many years without corruption. JPeas 

 and beans will germinate very well at feven years of 

 age ; but the feeds of lettuces and kidney beans, and 

 fome others, are not to be depended upon after a year or 

 two ; and though generally fpeaking the fmaller feeds 

 are of the leait duration, yet their maintenance of 

 vegetative power depends much upon the texture of the 

 feed, with refpeft to its coat, and the oil it con- 

 tains, &c. 



The favlng feed by private gardeners, is hardly to be 

 recommended. Things running to feed give a garden a 

 rude appearance, often occupying ground that is wanted, 

 And might be tried to better purpofe \ and the cafe often 



is. 



