ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE. 
25 
CHAPTER III. 
The Reproduction of Vegetables . 
LESSON IX. 
REPRODUCTION BY GENERATION. 
53. Plants are reproduced by their seeds, stems, limbs, 
and even leaves (as is the case with the cactus). A ma¬ 
jority, however, of cultivated vegetables spring from the 
seeds. It is by this mode of reproduction that we preserve, 
in most plants, their vigor, strength, and fructuous powers; 
for it is well known that many vegetables, propagated for 
several generations by means of their branches, become 
finally barren. 
54. When a plant is perpetuated by means of its seeds, 
as is the case with wheat, rye, etc., we call it reproduc¬ 
tion by generation ; and we say that the reproduction is 
by propagation , when it is any other part of the vegetable 
than the seed that concurs in the formation of the new 
plant. Thus, it is by propagation that the limb or cut¬ 
ting of a tree produces another tree. 
55. In the reproduction by generation, we must above 
all things be careful in the selection and preservation of 
the seed. That they may unite all the qualities requisite 
to reproduction, it is indispensably necessary that they 
should be thoroughly ripe, and well preserved. We should 
above all things prevent their getting heated, in which case 
they would either not sprout at all, or produce but feeble 
plants. A common mode of testing the quality of seeds, 
h to throw them into water; those floating upon the sur¬ 
face being considered worthless. But another, a better 
