CH. I.] SOWING. 25 



mav be termed the coincidences or sjniclironisms of 

 natiu'e. 



The attempt to attain knowledge on this subject is 

 not new, for nearly a centmy since Harald Barck and 

 Alexander Berger, in Sweden, made many observ- 

 ations directed to this object, and in later years, 

 Stillingfleet and Martyn have done the same in 

 England. 



The first named of these botanists thus expresses 

 himself upon the subject : "If botanists noted the 

 time of the foliation and blossoming of trees and 

 herbs, and the days on which the seed is sown, 

 flowers, and ripens, and if they continued these 

 observations for many years, there can be no doubt 

 but that we might find some inle from which we 

 might conclude at what time grains and culinary- 

 plants, according to the nature of each soil, ought to 

 be sown ; nor should we be at a loss to guess at the 

 approach of winter ; nor ignorant whether we ought 

 to make our autumn sowing later or earlier." 



M. Barck would derive his intimations from the 

 vegetable tribes alone, but I think the other king- 

 doms of organic nature might be included — as the 

 appearances of certain migratory birds, and the birth 

 of certain insects. For example, in the east of 

 England, it is a common sapng among gardeners — 

 confirmed by practice — AMien you have seen two 

 swallows together, sow kidney beans. 



