290 BOTANY. 



&c., should be sufifered to dry for a few days, and may then 

 be loosely packed in a box without moss ; many of them 

 will live in this state for four, six, or eight months. 



In procuring the seeds of foreign plants, care should 

 be taken that they are perfectly dry, they should be 

 packed in coarse brown paper, with but few seeds in each 

 parcel, and the diiFerent parcels stowed into small tin boxes 

 or canisters, the lids or covers of which should be soldered 

 or cemented on, the more effectually to avoid the attacks of 

 insects, and the admission of air j such kinds of seeds as are 

 encased in hard shells, do not require these precautions but 

 the less all the sorts are exposed to the air, the more proba- 

 bility there will be of their vegetating. Various experiments 

 have been made of substances to pack seeds in, as Sugar, 

 Raisins, enveloping the seeds in warm wax, packing them 

 11 cerate papers, &c.; but the grand secret is to procure them 

 sound and dry, and to pack them in such a manner as to 

 exclude fresh air, which eventually dries up their 

 juices ; and what is of equal consequence, is, that the seeds 

 be planted as soon as each parcel is opened, as one hours ex- 

 posure being in many cases suiScient to destroy a whole 

 package. 



As we derive so much from vegetables; it behoves 

 the Traveller and Philanthrophist, to enquire and ascertain 

 the properties of such as are in request in other countries, 

 either tor food or medicine, for the purpose of dyeing, or for 

 mechanical or agricultural purposes ; as practical informa- 

 tion on these points may be of incalculable advantage. In 

 pursuing enquiries relative to grain, culinary or esculent 



