Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-10-16

G,l9rttugtnrac.
C0LLEcT1NG OF SEEDS.
From the New England Farmer.

ven wheat for seed has been picked
from the field by such single heads as
were most forward, vigorous, large
aud flied with the nest plump and
sound berry; and in that way era.
dual improvement Of the Kind may be
introduced. If we were about to pur
chase garden seeds, we should wish
10 be informed in what neighborbood
or fraternity of other vegetables they
grew. Different sorts OF plants of the
same or similar species, in,part to
each other their respective qualities -
'sFt'hus if the genuine 1uta baga grew
near the common turnip, or turnip cab
bagc, the seeds of the former will
have in part the peeuliaIfties of the lat.
ter, and vice versa. II a mangel wor
sci root, intended for seed, has grown
near plant Of the common kind Of
beet which has likewise gone to seed,
the seeds of each plant viii partake in
son.c degree OF The qualities OF the o.
Their. Yoa should never save seeds
from such watermelons, muskmefons,
squishes ;cucumbers, pumpkins, gcards,
e.. as have grown near each other,
unless in your crop from such seeds
you would like to have MELONS which
have somewhat the favour ofsquashes,
cucumbcrs which taste litt'e like
pumpkins, and pumpkins not much
sweeter than g0ards. 'Thcre can be
10 cross bctwecrB cabbage and car
rot; bet there can be between a cab
bage and a tCrnip; between cabbage
and caulilloweg: nothing is more
cofnmon. and the different kind of cab
bagcs will produce crosses presenting
!wenty, and perhaps thousand de
grees from the early York to the Sa-
voy. fi'urnips will mix WITH the ra-
dishes and ruta baga; al! these with
rape; the result will mix With cahba-
yes and cauiifloWers;---so that ii moth
ing were done to preserve plants true
to their kind. oar gardens wou'd spon
present ms with little besides mere her
hage. To sae2 the seed TO two sorts
Of any tribe, in the same garden in the
same wear ought not to be attempted;
and this it is that makes it difficult for
any one man 10 raise all sorts of seed
good and trCe.
Seeds should stand till quite ripe,
should then be gathered when dry. II
when threshed Or shelled any moisture
remains attached 10 them, they should
be dried in the sun or near fire.
They are best kept in a room where
there is occasionally a, least, fire in
the winter. 'E'hey are most securely
kept in the pods or on the stalks; bu'
this is sometimes lnconvenienr, and of
ten impracticable, unless it be for sucl1
as are very valuable, very curious, and
lie in small compass. bic Goblet
says that great care is necessary to a
void the use ofunripe seed. Evcnin
hot weather, when the seed would
drept out, ifthc plants were left stand
ing, pt.i! or cut the plants end lay them
on a cloth in the sun I'll The seed be
all ready to fill out, for if forced from
the pod the seed is never so good ----
Seed will grow if gathered when they
ace green as grass, aad afterwards
dried in the sun; but they do not pro
dnce plants like those coming from ripe
seed. / tried some years ago, fifty
grains OF wheat, gathered green against
fifty gathered ripe. Not only were
the plants Of The former feeble when
compared wiill The latter; not only was
the produce of the former two thirds
less thru the latter, but even the euali-
ty Of the grain was uoi half so good
Many ofthe ears had smut, which WAS
no. the case withihose chat came from
The ripened seed, though the land and
tile cultivation were in beth cases the
same" Other writers advise not 10
reap wheat infected with smut TIL fully
ripe and perfectly dry, and according
TO Mr.. c. wheat intended for seed
should in all cases lie allowed to he-
com, qlitc ripe before it is reapcd.
\ writer whose observations are
q,otcd with appreciation IN the Com
,iiete Farmer" an English work Of
acthoritv. saws, Il never thresh the
sheaycs vhjch are to supply me with
seed I'LL lust when ! wait TO make use
oft Have notion that the seed
keeps better in the covering natnre has
given il, | mean the chaiI, than it
would do Without it; and ! am pretty
certain it sprouts sooner in the gtcund, ,
The hu.k or bran beng preserved in a
tender and more yielding state than it
would he were it exposed TO the open
air." Ifnew seed is TO be preferred