3 
ON THE RAISING, GROWING, CLEANSING, AND 
TESTING OF SEEDS- 
TliSTINO VARIOUS VARIETIES OF GRASS FOR I.AWNS, RUTTING GREENS, &c. 
The prominence we have given to our Trade Mark “Tested Seeds” over so long a period has 
repeatedly given rise to the question, “ What do you mean by Tested Seeds ?” Believing that the raising, 
growing, testing, &c., of Seeds will be a matter of interest to our Customers, we take this opportunity of 
giving an illustrated explanation of some of the methods that were employed leading up to the introduction 
to the gardening world of such well-known Peas as Telephone, Stratagem, Daisy, Michaelmas, 
Anticipation, Mayflower, Harvestman, International, Quite Content, &c., &c , a process which 
frequently involves seven to eight years of patient observation and labour before a new introduction can be 
placed with confidence before the attention ol our Customers. 
We have selected culinary Peas as our illustration because they are more easily identified in a 
photograph, but analogous methods have to be pursued in the improvement ot all varieties of Vegetables 
and Flowers, a work which we have made — and still continue to make — a special feature of our business. 
Indeed, it is now a matter of history that our House has been responsible for some of the most important 
improvements in Vegetables and Flowers far too numerous to mention here. 
Let us assume that one of our Experts has observed a promising seedling, produced from cross- 
fertilisation the previous year in our experimental grounds ; its merits and characteristics are carefully 
noted in our Garden Registers. Possibly it may produce an extraordinarily large pod, like Quite C.ONTENT, 
or it may be earlier, later, taller, more prolific and compact, &c., than any other variety shown in our 
comparative trials to be in commerce. 
The produce of the jilant is then carefully harvested and sown the following spring, when it again 
goes through the same routine, may be for six or seven years, to secure constancy and fixation of its special 
characteristics ; the produce by this time may have increased to several bushels, when it is ready to be, 
sown for a crop. Ground that is particularly suited to the variety is carefully selected, and the Seed is 
sown. In the early summer, when the plants are in maturity, our Experts, who have watched the character 
of the Pea ever sines it was a seedling in our experimental grounds, examine every plant, eliminating any 
that show a weakness or lack of uniformity ; the crop is then harvested, stacked, and threshed, and 
eventually comes to our warehouse to be cleaned, hand-picked, and finally tested for germination. T he 
subsequent processes of testing we have pleasure in illustrating with notes on the next page. 
RAYUES PARA', LONDON, 5.fK-ioil. B 
