602 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SOWING SEEDS. 
which have germinated beneath thenceforward 
lose their action; a proof that such seeds have 
been put into an unnatural situation, and that the 
resources of nature have been drawn upon to 
meet this, and modify her course, to the contin- 
gency. And not solely such an ordinary process 
in nature does the physiology of germination’ 
explain, but other phenomena of extraordinary 
kinds. Years ago, I recollect an instance, wherein 
a gentleman applied to me for an explanation of 
avery singular and rare occurrence. He told 
me, that in breaking up a field, a portion of 
which had previously been tilled with the refuse 
of a glue manufactory ; the oats, sown thereon, 
sprung up without any roots or radicals, and that 
he felt apprehensive he should have to sow the 
ground over again, as he imagined the oats could 
not possibly do any good. However, when the 
second blade began to appear, roots shot rapidly 
out from the base of each grain, and the plants 
thenceforward grew most vigorously, and pro- 
duced a most abundant crop. A striking proof 
this, that the radicals produced by the germination 
of seeds are not essential, inasmuch as_ plants 
in favourable circumstances can do without them, 
and that the germination of seeds is intended by 
nature for the purpose already assigned, viz :— 
