I'm not going to disagree with anyone over whether 'Seeds of Love' is a ballad or not, but do compare it with Child 219, 'The Gardener'. They are very close. I would even go so far as to guess that SOL is a remake of 219. BTW don't bother with 219B; it's an absolute load of modern crap.

DickG, excellently put. I'm impressed.

DickM's original posting actually meant, what is a traditional ballad.

Perhaps what might be more useful therefore is listing and, dare I suggest, even prioritising the characteristics of this as Brian has already started doing.

I don't think Child ever intended his 305 to be the final word and be worshipped like some sort of bible as the academics have done for the last century. And yes, he was blissfully unaware of the many traditional ballads still being sung. He included several ballads of which the earliest version appeared on a broadside, but missed many that have since been researched by the likes of Bruce Olsen. Perhaps it is time for a remake of the English and Scottish Popular Ballads!