CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
207 
they consider as important as high fertility and thorough 
tillage. 
Large size and superior quality count for more than 
anything else in securing remunerative prices. These 
objects, therefore, should be paramount in the mind of 
the grower who would select his own seed. Vigor of 
stock is also essential, and it may be an advantage to 
take earliness into consideration. 
Experienced gardeners seem to agree that the best 
seed is not produced until the plants are at least four 
years old. A greater age is sometimes recommended. 
The prospective plants for seed production are studied 
carefully for a season or several seasons, perhaps, and 
the observant grower finally decides upon certain ones 
that approach his ideals. They are free from rust, or 
practically so, the shoots are large and surpass the aver- 
age plant in number. To be even more accurate, and cer- 
tain of getting seed from the most prolific plants, some of 
the most promising specimens may be marked and num- 
bered and the cuttings of each weighed for a season or 
two. It is just as important to choose high-grade male 
plants as it is to choose the best female plants. There 
may be several female plants to one male and they 
should be in close proximity to each other to insure thor- 
ough pollination. A stake should be driven at each plant 
to serve as a mark the following spring. The spears 
from all other plants in the field are cut and marketed 
as usual and only two or three stalks retained on each 
breeding plant. This limitation of stalks will produce 
stronger plants and larger seeds. Six to 10 inches of 
the tops and the ends of the branches should also be cut 
off to favor the development of better seed on the lower 
part of the plant, and if there is a profuse setting of ber- 
ries, it is an advantage to remove some from the extremi- 
ties of the plant. 
