The Little River news., 1917-07-14
FARMERS MUST SAVE: |HOME GARDEN SEED
Declares There Is a Possibility of q Serious Garden Seed Shortage
 This Year.
By J. s. Knox, Horticulturist, Exten- sion Division, University of
 Arkansas

!
 there is the possibility of a serious garden seed shortage this coming year? Then why rot make special effort to save what seed you need from your own garden? Save few Of the most vigorous and prolific plants, then select the best seeds from these and you have an article that nine times out of ten is superior to what you can buy, and at the same time you know that they came from and that they are true to name and free l from disease. For the benefit of those who may wish to supply their own demand for garden seeds with home grown product, the following direc- tions are given:
 Remember, Select Only the Most Vig-
 orous and Productive Plants
 to Furnish Seed.
 Bean and Pea.-Allow the pods to ripen on the vine When dry enough to rattle in the pod, gather the beans. It is best not to allow them to become wet after the ripening period. Thresh out the beans or peas, dry out thor oughly in the shade, then store in cool, dry place.
 Beet and carrot.-A very few plants of each of these vegetables pro- duce an abundance of seed. Select some of the best roots, take up and store in the cellar over winter, then as early as possible in the spring transplant to the field. Beet seed stalks sometimes become very heavy, and it may be necessary to tie them to a stake. If the temperature does not reach a lower mark than ten de grees above zero, the beets or carrots may be left standing in the field over winter.
 Lettuce-As soon as the stalk dies and the seed are fully mature, re- move the seed and store in dry, cool place. Seed of the lettuce plant are short lived, and are not generally con- sidered reliable after the second year.
 Okra.-Before frost gather the pods or allow the pods to mature, then cut stalk and hang up with pods attached until seed are wanted for planting. If desired, the seed may be shelled from the pods and stored in some con- venent receptacle.
 Pepper-Select the seed pods from vigorous plants, and as soon as ma ture place pods on a string, or, if preferred, shell out the seed and store them in small paper sack.
 Psrsnip.-The roots may be left standing in the field over winter Seed will be produced the following spring When ripe, the stalks bearing the seed are cut and hung up in a shed to dry. When fully dry, thresh or rub out the seed and store as for other vegetables. Do not try to keep seed longer than two years.
 Radish.-When ripe enough to rattle in the pods the seed stalks are cut and the seed threshed out, dried and put away for spring use. The less rain that falls on the seed after ripen- ing the better the seed are likely to be.
 Pumpkin and Squash.-The fruits may be stored in some convenient place and the seed left in them until wanted for planting, or the seed may be removed from the fruits, washed and dried. Here again we must keep the seed away from rats or mice. Seed are good for several years if properly handled.
 Sweet Corn.-Use the same method for curing and saving as for field corn, or shell as soon as fully dry and store in small receptacle.
 Tomato.-As the fruit becomes fully ripe, gather, crush the seed out into a small vessel of water, and allow to ferment for about two days. This fermenting will remove the littlo film which surrounds the seed Separate the seed from the pulp by screening, wash the seed in clean water and dry in the shade. stirring occasionally to. prevent sticking together.
 Turnip.-Seed of this vegetable are among the easiest to save. The tur- nips sown in the fall will usually sur vive the winter all right and produce, seed the following spring. However, l u may Dt SdleT tO store some or the roots in cellar and transplant the following spring. These will produce seed in early summer, and the seed stalks may be cut and hung up to dry, or the seed may be threshed out by hand and the seed stored in any desired receptacle.
 All vegetable seeds should be stored where they can be kept dry and fairly cool. When stored under such conditions they keep better and retain their vitality for longer period than when storage conditions are not such.
 For further information write to the Extension Division, University of Ar kansas, Fayetteville.
 Be sure to see thls column In the next issue of thIs paper telling how to protect garden seed from weevih While In storage.