604 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SOWING SEEDS. 
We can now understand, even for the purposes 
of germination, why soils should be ploughed as 
deep as is possible, or as they will permit—why the 
furrows should be laid compact —and why the soil 
so turned-up should be pulverized to the utmost 
extent that the season, and the implements of hus- 
bandry will allow, or can accomplish. Yet the 
introduction of the fact, to illustrate the position 
which we have endeavoured to occupy and main- 
tain, needs itself to be explained before we proceed 
directly onward with our subject, inasmuch as we 
may have occasion to revert to it again; and it 
may serve us in endeavouring to point out another 
physiological distinction useful to be known, and 
that is—germination and vegetation are two sepa- 
rate principles; the former primary and essential 
—the other secondary and accessory, springing 
out of the former, but totally different in its action 
and the sphere of that action. The chemical and 
vital change which germination effects within the 
seed, throws off a portion of what the vegetative 
growth requires; while what favours vegetation 
most, injures germination. Bee-bread and honey 
differ not more in their nature and qualities, than 
the materials out cf which the two structures 
reared by germination and vegetation, differ; and 
the grub could as well thrive and go through its 
