278 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
our work now, with the full assurance that sure reward 
awaits our every effort. Our first duty, and an im¬ 
portant one, is the 
SAVING OP SEED. 
As this is the proper season for this work, we would 
say, that, while it may be cheaper to buy seed in most 
instances than to save it, the pleasure to be derived 
from saving seeds, particularly of flowers, is very great, 
while the annoyance that results from planting worth¬ 
less seed, will, in a great measure, be avoided. Com¬ 
plaints are very often made, not only that seeds fail to 
grow, but that the plants produced do not bear the 
flowers that were expected from the representations 
made by the seedsmen. In fact, there are but few 
gardeners who do not complain of the failure of some 
portion of the seeds which they annually put into their 
gardens, but there need be no failure if a little pains is 
taken in seed-saving. Where a gardener saves his own 
seed he will exercise the greatest care in selection of 
plants that are to produce them, and in collecting and 
preparing the seeds saved, as it is inattention to these 
circumstances alone which mars success. What we 
mean by preparing seeds, is comprised in the treatment 
of the plant producing them. More generally, a plant 
bearing seed is left to go on flowering, and the seeds 
developed by both the early and late blossoms are 
gathered at the same time and used indiscriminately. 
It is thus that the failure, of at least a portion, of the 
seeds sown is rendered nearly certain. The proper way 
to manage the plants intended for seed, in order to 
secure the best results in germination, and healthful¬ 
ness of the plants to be produced, is to leave but a cer¬ 
tain number of the earliest flowers on the plant for 
seeding, and scrupulously remove all the rest that may 
afterwards appear. In this manner, the seeds will be 
much finer, and will nearly all ripen at the same time. 
To prevent the loss of the first-ripened seeds, which are 
always the best, the individual capsules may be picked 
as they reach maturity, the little cost of care and labor 
will be nothing compared with the excellency of the 
seed saved. It is from a neglect of this plan that the 
seed of the Mignonette is frequently, in fact, always so 
bad; while that of many other plants commonly fails. 
An Aster or a Rhodanthe, or any other related plant, 
will not ripen many heads of seed perfectly; and it is 
consequently the wisest policy to allow but three or 
four of the best flowers to remain on the plant. The 
great pleasure and profit in amateur seed-saving evolves 
from a careful selection of the plants that are intended 
for seed purposes. Where persons are saving seeds for 
their own use, that from a single plant of any given 
variety will be quite sufficient; therefore great care 
should be exercised in the selection, in order to secure 
the best, all things considered, size, color and form, and 
herein lies the importance of saving your own seeds. 
You have, say one hundred plants of Asters, and you 
select but one for seed-bearing, and that one the bste. 
The seed-grower cannot afford to throw away the ninety 
and nine, or, in fact, but a small proportion of his 
plants; consequently he saves many that are of an in¬ 
ferior quality. He must also let the plant produce all 
the seed it will, in order to make his industry profitable; 
hence the cause of failure in germination, and the 
difference in quality of the flowers that will be pro¬ 
duced. The amateur’s method of selection will be the 
means of developing the flower to its greatest perfec¬ 
tion, at the same time his plants will yield less seed; 
while the seed-grower naturally encourages the seed- 
producing qualities of the plant, which in a great meas¬ 
ure is at the expense of the quality of the flower. It is 
a scientific truth, that all high developments are weak 
in the vital element of reproduction. 
While the harvest of flowers has been more abundant 
this month than any corresponding one within our 
recollection, the garden also furnishes a still richer 
harvest, 
A HARVEST OF THOUGHT. 
And now, while in its greatest perfection, while the color 
of every leaf and flower is at its height, is the time to 
note the effect of our present arrangements as regards 
color, height, and general results, and to embody in 
our plans for next year all the merits of this. Every 
plan for the future should be adopted now, while there 
is opportunity to study contrasts. An hour, note-book 
in hand, in the garden now, will be of more use than 
days spent over the principles illustrated by practical 
examples, real or imaginary, of grouping in winter. 
Seeing is a wonderful aid to successful blending, con¬ 
trasting, or harmonizing of color. No time for the 
selection of plants is as favorable as the present, when 
our wants are fully known. We now know what to 
discard, and know also that some other form must take 
its place. The work is nearly done, and well done the 
moment we know what we want; the getting is, rela¬ 
tively, a simple matter. A proper selection must be 
made, in order that the work need not be done over 
again next year. In this work, exercise care and judg¬ 
ment; do not fill a space with an unknown plant, taken 
simply on another’s recommendation; let some one else 
test “novelties,” particularly if they are of a family 
but little known; new forms of an old plant will not be 
likely to deceive you. But avoid strangers in the 
family of plants, as you would in the family of men; do 
not give them room until you know them. 
We cannot close this article without quoting from 
Copeland’s “ Country Life,” the following noble thoughts 
on arrangement and selection: 
“ Study every natural group you see, and make your¬ 
self master of its beauty and the cause of it, and you 
will not only find that its variety and irregularity are 
wonderful, but that the system by which it was all de¬ 
veloped can be followed as well as analyzed. It is the 
result of careful study and well-planned planting; and, 
although the greatest carelessness seems to prevail, we 
see that nothing could be removed without injury to 
the whole. Every tree-stem has its own peculiar beauty 
of lichens and mosses. The rocks are green, golden, or 
brown, as the rain is frequent or rare; the flowers are 
light or dark-colored, as shade or sunlight needs con¬ 
trast. Every part is perfectly balanced. This may be 
the work of chance, but it is a chance which is perfectly 
uniform in its action, which may be reasoned on and 
predicted, and reduced to tabular views; a chance—if a 
chance—that has proceeded by rule and regulation from 
the earliest period of man’s observation till now. 
“ It is not my intention to inquire why God makes 
beauty; He does make it, and that most lavishly, and 
without regard to the possibility of man’s ever being 
benefited by it. The depths of* unexplored forests, un¬ 
opened mines, and unfatliomed seas are all aglow with 
beauty, grace and variety; and no appreciative mind 
