GENERAL REMARKS. 
2b 
Parsnip, Rhubarb, and other light, scale-like seeds, cannot 
oe safely trusted after they are a year old. 
Beans and Peas of different species, Capsicum, Carrot, 
Cress, Leek, Nasturtium, Okra, Onion, Salsify, Scorzonera, 
and small Herb seed in general, may be kept two years. 
Artichoke, Asparagus, Egg-plant, Endive, Fetticus, Let- 
tuce, Mustard, Parsley, Skirret, and Spinach seed, may with 
care be preserved three years 
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Celery, Kale, Radish, and 
Turnip seed, will keep four years, if properly attended to. 
Beet, Cucumber, Gourd, Melon, Pumpkin, and Squash, 
also, Burnet, Chervil, and Sorrel seed, have been known to 
grow freely when five and even seven years old ; but it is not 
prudent to venture seed in the garden, of the soundness of 
which we are not certain. 
In order to put such on their guard as may attempt to raise 
seed either for their own use or for the market, I would 
observe that great care is necessary, as it is an indubitable 
fact, that if seed of similar species be raised near each other, 
degeneracy will be the consequence ; it is, therefore, difficult 
for any one man to raise all sorts of seed, good and true to 
their kind, in any one garden. 
If roots of any kind become defective, they are unfit for 
seed, as the annexed fact will show. I once planted for seed 
some beautiful orange-coloured roots of Carrots, but as they 
had been previously grown with some of a lemon-colour, 
they produced seed of a mixed and spurious breed ; and as 
this is not a solitary instance of degeneracy from the like 
cause, I have come to the conclusion, that as in the animal 
frame, so it is in the vegetable system — disorders very fre- 
quently lay dormant from one generation to another, and al 
length break out with all their vigour; I would therefore 
advi§e seed growers not to attempt to “ bring a clean thing 
out of an unclean,” but if they find a mixture of varieties 
among their seed roots, to reject the whole, or they will in- 
fallibly have spurious seed. 
3 
