14 
SEED-TIME AND HARVEST. 
How to Test Seeds. 
It is of the utmost importance to every 
one to know how to buy seeds, as well as 
how to sell them. Now, I do not mean to 
infer that no man can be trusted to sell 
good seeds to his customers, or that some 
■eeds are any worse for being above one 
year old, for some particular causes and 
reasons; but, since seeds are usually sold 
to purchasers as new and sound, I do think 
it will be useful for all to learn that there 
is a true sign whereby to know old from 
new. vital from non-vital, or less so, as well 
as t > form a correct opinion as to the char¬ 
acter of the seed. It will be very useful in 
purchasing new flower seeds from non-de¬ 
scriptive catalogues. 
When \oii want new seed peas, put one 
from the stock into your mouth and bite it. 
If it is very hard it is more than one year 
old. If the teeth enter it with moderate 
ease it is new seed. New carrot seed always 
has a green shade on it. Old seed loses 
this, and is of a deal pale brown, and less 
fragrant. New parsnip has a shade of 
green, which it loses if more than one year 
old. Onion seed is more difficult to prove 
than most other seeds, but if you take a 
•ingle seed at a time and carefully bite it, 
you will find that old seed has a tough, dry 
•kin, with a very white and harsh kernel, 
while new seed has a more tender, moist 
•kin, and the kernel possesses a greater 
degree of moisture, and is somewhat oily. 
The seed may be cut with a penknife in- 
■tea l of bitten. Onion seed that has no 
vitality at all has no kernel, or one perfect¬ 
ly dry. Test this by pressing the seed on 
a piece of white writing pa^r. If it leaves 
no moisture on the paper it is of no use, 
and lias been tampered with, or has lost its 
vitality by age. New cabbage or broccoli 
»eed possesses a pale green shade in the 
kernel when pressed out or cut, and a 
tinge of green in the brown skin also. But 
old seed loses this m proportion to its age, 
becoming of a dull, dark brown. Cabbage, 
broccoli, kales, etc., will retain their vital¬ 
ity longer than any other seeds, and will 
grow well when three years old, or even 
six years, if well kept. Beet seed has a 
faint tinge of pale green if new, but is a 
dull brown if old, and its vitality is very 
doubtful if old. 
New celery has a faint tinge of green, 
and is very aromatic, but it 1 >ses the green 
and becomes less fragrant if more than one 
year old, and is doubtful. Lettuce seed 
is of a bright silver gray, if new, and the 
kernel has a green tinge with it, both of 
which it partially loses with age. Lettuce 
seed will grow very well two years old, 
but above that it is doubtful. The black 
seeded varieties can only be tented by the 
color of the kernel, which is the same as in 
the white-seeded. Radish seed always has 
a strong green color in the kernel up to two 
or three years old, which changes to a dead, 
dirty, whitish brown if past growing quality. 
Radish seed will, however, retain its vital¬ 
ity four or five years, although it will not 
do for early sowing. Cucumber and melon 
seeds are of a bright, creamy white, while 
the outside becomes a dead, pale brown, 
and the kernel a dull cream color when 
old. Either will grow very well up to three 
or four 3 r ears old. After that they are 
doubtful, unless they have been preserved 
very carefully. 
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AwU mailed for 10 cts. CAPITOL CARD CO., 
11-1 Hartford, Conn. 
Floral Beauties, name on 10 cents, (silver) 
A “GOLD” present free with each pack 
Fred O. Newberry, Coaneautville, Pa, 
10-1 
printed on 40 Sntln Finished Cnrd» 
___aud a Solid 1C riled iiuld Ring- 
FRICK for ten two-cent itnmpi. Cut thi» out. 
CLINTON BROS., Clintonvllle, Conn. 
| O Bcautlfal Satin Finished 
CiipiIm and one ROLLED COLD 
SIV G (•' ..l EE tor ten two-oent stamps. 
ACME CARD FACTORY, Cliutouville, Conn. 
BO Splendid Chromoj with name, 10c., 3pk* 
and lovely Sample Sheet of new style Cards, COc, 
5 pks. with Gold Plated Rin<rand SampleLheet, 
60 cts. E. II. PARDEE, New Haven. Conn. 
O UR ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL — 
A fn 1 and complete history of he Poland-China 
Hop:, sent free on application. Stock of all ages and 
conditions for su e J, & C. STRAWN, Newark, 0. 1031 
Piilow-Sham Adjuster!! 
One of the most labor saving inve; tions of the age. 
Agents a e reaping a rich harv st For < r cultrs and 
! ems, address W. W. JONfJS, !U Cai ro: 1 t, 
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LOCAL REPORTERS WANTED. 
We want a Ixical Resorter and Agent in every 
forming community to represent City and Country,” 
and to furnish u» from time to time such facts as we 
may require Send 1 cents for credentials and full 
particulars regarding services ami compensation 
Address, WILL C iUKNER A CO., Publisher* 
CUy and Country, Columbus, Ohio. 
