82 PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



It will be seen by the foregoing list that seeds of the 

 MalvacecB or Mallow family retained their vitality the 

 longest, as one-half of the species germinated after fifteen 

 years, while of the Leguminosas only one in five germin- 

 ated, while with barely one exception all of the others 

 failed. Prof. Balfour, in referring to the experiments 

 of Prof. De Candolle, says : "Large seeds were found to 

 retain their germinating powers longer than small ones, 

 and the presence or absence of separate albumen or peri- 

 sperm did not seem to make any difference. Composites 

 and Umbelliferse lost their germinating power very early," 



From these experiments Prof. De Candolle concludes 

 that duration of vitality is frequently in an inverse pro- 

 portion to the rapidity of the germination. 



PRESERVATION OF SEEDS. While the propagator of 

 plants will usually endeavor to sow seeds as soon as prac- 

 ticable after they are ripe, still it is often necessary, as 

 well as desirable, to preserve them in good condition for 

 a few months, and sometimes for several years. The 

 most favorable conditions for preserving the germinating 

 power of seeds no doubt are such as maybe said to accord 

 with natural laws, but not by strict natural methods. 

 Cultivated plants are mostly far removed from their 

 native habitats, and are also subjected to the influence 

 of artificial surroundings ; therefore we could not, if we 

 would, adopt nature's methods of propagation ; besides, 

 wj^aim to improve upon nature, and make a far greater 

 number of seeds grow than is possible in the absence of 

 man's assistance. There can be no general rule given 

 for the preservation of seeds, but by arranging plants 

 into groups we may devise a set of rules which will 

 assist, if they do not prove to be an infallible guide. As 

 I have already stated, the seeds of conifers keep better 

 in the cones, whenever this is practicable, than when re- 

 moved, and the same rule holds good with many other 

 kinds of seeds that; are not enclosed in cones. Indian 



