THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SOWING SEEDS. 603 
that of calling the nascent plant into exist- 
ence, and nursing and feeding it until it can cater 
for itself. 
The exact value and nature of germination in 
the vegetable economy being thus made known, 
no doubt can exist of the great necessity of encou- 
raging the process to the utmost, by a due regard 
being had to the special conditions. And, as the 
ultimate object of growing grain is the reaping of 
a profitable crop, dependant both upon quantity and 
quality, a simultaneous germination of the seed, 
and fully vigorous seedling plants alone can ensure 
suchaproduce. Andifthe maltster beso very careful 
in frequently turning over his steepings of barley, 
in order that an accession of air and an equal 
temperature may cause each grain to germinate 
simultaneously, and his malt may be of first-rate 
quality ; and that thence a more intoxicating he- 
verage may be brewed (for the bane of thousands) 
—ought, I ask, the farmer to be less attentive that 
the self-same process, carried on within the soil, 
should be as fully encouraged, on purpose that an 
ample supply of bread may be baked for the boon 
of millions? To sucha question any one endowed 
with the comman principles of humanity would 
feel too indignant to reply. 
