The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-08-30

u. s. Department Of Agriculture
Points out Necessity for Incrsas-
inq Supply Of Vegetable Seed for
Next Years Planting-Gardeners
Uroed to Save Their Own Seed.
Under normal conditions Of COM
merce, considerable quantities oil
vegetable seed are imported by
American seedsmen from Europe
Since the beginning Of the European
war, these importations have de-
creased. until at the present time
they are relatively small. Further
more. America has been called up
on TO furnish certain vegetable seeds
10 Europe, and this has increased the
tendency to deplete the stocks avail
able for our own use. In view Of
these facts. il is believed that the
supply of vegetable seed in this
country should be conserved and
augmented TO the fullest extent pos
sible.
Save Seed from the Best Plants
There is but one general principal
underlying the production OF good
vegetable seed; that is, saved seed
from the best plants.
For seed purposes, all vegetables
NAV be classed as ANIMALS and BIZ
ennials. ANIMALS are such as ripen
n crop of seed the same season as
that in which the seed is sown; BIZ
ennials ripen seed the season fol-
lowing that in which the seed is
sown.
ANIMALS
Beans.-The saving OF beans Tor
seed is a relatively simple matter.
Select good plants with pods cor
responding to the sort planted and
save all pods. When ripe and dry,
shell the beans and, anywhere south
of Philadelphia, treat them with
carbon bisulphid to kill weevils.
The insects are in the beans at the
time Of harvesting and can be killed
BY placing the shelled beans in q
tight box within which is shallow
saucer into which a little carbon
bisulphid has been poured. Close
the box tight as soon as the carbon
bisulphid is poured and keep it
shut and away from flame for few
hours. Carbon bisulphide is very
inHammable.
Peas.-Save seed from the best
plants and treat as instructed for
beans. II seed is wanted Of an early
sort, save seed of plants maturing
the first disable pods. The arliest
peas will tend to yield an earlier
crop the next year than those from
the same row that ripens last.
Corn.-The ears should be allow
ed to ripen fully on the stalk, II
that is possible, before frost and
should be cured without exposure
even to a light frost. In all cases,
study the characters Of the variety
grown and select those plants that
come nearest the ideal for variety.
Vine Seeds Of all Kinds.-Cucum-
Der, muskmelon, water melon, and
squash seeds are easily saved. Here,
again, it is important that the best
fruits be selected according to kind
that are being grown. Allow the
selected fruits to ripen, cut them
open. scoop the seed out into dish,
and wash thoroughly with water.
When reasonably clean, spread on
a paper TO dry.
Tomato, Eggplant, Pepper, ETC.
What has been said Of vine seeds
applies equally as well to these
fruits. Tomato seed may be SCOOP
ed out OF the ripe tomato as we'll as
possible and the mass shaken up
with water; allow to settle, and then
tne WdteI, Ndll yihS "ho1 PIP ~
will, carefully pour Off. This will
usually get rid Of nearly all the
pulp. Eggplant and pepper seed are
naturally dry and easy to get out.
Lettuce, Radish. Spinach. ETC.
These ANIMALS seed abundantly,
and, here again, selection is i'm
portant. II you are growing head
lettuce, save the plants making the
best head. One lettuce plant will
usually make more seed than there
is in a scent packet, SO not many
plants will be needed. The seed
ripens unevenly, and when the first
seed gets ripe, the plant may be
shaken over a pan or paper and
the seed collected. When many
plants are left to seed, they may be
cut shortly after the first seeds are
ripe and laid on sheets 10 ripen.
Spinach seed does not SKATER a.
badly as lettuce. The stalks should
be left till quite ripe and when dry
be beaten over a sheet SO as TO KNOCK