CH. I.] SOWING. 31 



tried various menstrua, to facilitate the germination 

 of seeds ; but, with the exception of those which pro- 

 moted the decomposition of water, and the conse- 

 quent more abundant evolution of oxygen, I found 

 none of any efficiency. xVs to keeping the seeds in 

 saline solutions until they germinated, I never, cer- 

 tainly, carried my experiments so far as that; and 

 shall be most astonished, if any other effect than 

 injury or death to the plant is the consequence. 

 Such has been the result in the Horticultural So- 

 ciety's gardens, where the seeds of Lupinus Hartwegii 

 were made to germinate in a weak solution of phos- 

 phate of ammonia. 



No liquid in which water does not preponderate 

 will enable a seed moistened ^vith it to germinate ; 

 for I have treated broad beans, Iddney beans, and 

 peas with pure alcohol, (spiiit of wine), ohve oil, 

 alcohol and water, in equal proportions by measure, 

 and with a solution of carbonate of ammonia, but in 

 no instance did they germinate. 



It may be noted as a warning to those who em- 

 ploy steeps for seed, with the hope of promoting the 

 %igour of the future plant, that they must keep the 

 seed in those steeps a very few hours. In foity-eight 

 hom's, if the temperatui'e be 60^ or more, putrefaction 

 commences, and germination is weakened, or entirely 

 destroyed. 



M. Vogel, of Munich, has published an extended 



