CHILDkEN'S GARDENS 
V 
Seeds should be collected as soon as they are 
ripe, as if they are not gathered they will either 
fall to the ground themselves, when, if they 
happen to grow, they will probably be in a 
wrong place; or they may get spoiled by 
autumn rain and fog; or, if large seeds, they 
will be taken by the birds. This is so much to 
be guarded against in the case of sunflowers 
that a very sharp look-out must be kept. The 
birds will barely allow the seeds to ripen before 
they perch on the heavy heads so neatly packed 
full of seed, and pick out every one. They get 
so bold, or are so absorbed in their work, that 
they will go on stealing even when the owner 
of the seeds is close by. I have watched dear, 
naughty little black-caps hanging upside down 
on to a sunflower head, tugging away at the 
seeds, when I have been working only two or 
three yards away. With a little care children 
could save enough seed from their annual 
plants each season to fill the garden the follow¬ 
ing year. Marigolds, nasturtiums, sweet-peas, 
corn-cockles, mignonette, poppies, and many 
others, would in all probability have enough 
seed for the purpose, and then money would 
only have to be spent in the spring on newer 
or more choice seeds or plants. 
The way to collect seed is generally to pick 
off the whole pod or seed-vessel as you walk 
