298 ON THE MATURATION OF GRAIN 



all cultivation ; inasmuch, as such knowledge 

 alone can enable man to guide the growth of 

 plants, govern and control them, towards that 

 perfection, which can secure to him the full 

 benefit of all his toil, and culture. 



Animals must have attained, or nearly so, their 

 full growth, before they are fitted for the repro- 

 duction of their species. Changes take place in 

 their system, prior to this cessation of growth, 

 as preparatory to the due discharge of their 

 reproductive functions. So likewise in plants. 

 They either cease to grow, when fructification 

 ensues ; or the parts, designed for fructification, 

 have attained such vigour, and undergone such 

 changes, as enable them to perfect the same. 

 To understand, then, the laws by which the 

 principle of fructification operates ; and to know 

 those conditions, which modify such operations 

 until maturation is fully consummated, is as much 

 the business of agriculture — (and much more 

 conducive to its profitable returns) as skilfully 

 tilling the ground, or properly performing the 

 requisite manual labour. 



The different kinds of grain supplying mankind 

 with bread, which has been so aptly termed the 



