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in appearance will keep good to almost an indefinite period. Wheat, taken 

 from the tombs of Egypt, where it had been for at least three thousand 

 years, as it is well known, has been made to grow ; but the peach, with its 

 coarse shell, would not, under the same circumstances, remain sound a 

 dozen years. While some may be imbedded in the earth excluded entirely 

 from the air, and yet remain perfectly sound for ages, others, if so treated, 

 would be destroyed in a few hours. 



Seed of the same species exhibits a great diversity of character. The 

 sugar-maple (Acer saceharinum) will keep for a year or two with very little 

 trouble, but the silver maple (Acer dusycarpum) with the same care, 

 would become worthless in a few days. The silver maple being one of that 

 class of indigenous trees that ripen their seeds early in the season, Nature 

 designed that they should fall to the earth, take root, and grow to a size 

 sufficient to withstand the rigors of the coming winter; this fact might 

 become the basis of a very good theory, and that is, all trees of our cli- 

 mate that ripen their seeds in the spring or early part of summer must be 

 allowed to grow the same season or not at all. In a majority of cases this 

 would be found correct, but there would be exceptions to this theory as 

 with most others. For instance, the seeds of the American elm (Ulmus 

 americana), if gathered as soon as they commence falling from the tree, and 

 sown immediately, will grow in a few days, and make fine plants by the fol- 

 lowing autumn; but if allowed to become dry, they will not grow until the next 

 year. Not so with the silver maple ; it must grow soon after it comes from 

 the tree, or never; it seems that its life is measured like that of the ani- 

 mal creation. Some writers on vegetable physiology have advanced the 

 theory, that all seeds may be kept under proper care perfectly sound for 

 any length of time we may desire. We hope they will perfect their dis- 

 covery and let the facts be known, for if there is one branch of agricul- 

 ture or horticulture upon which we need light more than another, it is 

 this one — the preservation of seeds. 



ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS. 



Very few really good hardy new shrubs have been brought out in the 

 past year ; in fact, we think there is no year in the past ten that has pro- 

 duced so little to attract attention in the way of shrubs as the one just past. 



The 'English and French horticultural papers mention a few, but from 

 the description given we conclude they possess but very little merit. 



We have many really splendid varieties that were brought to notice 

 several years ago, that are to this day seldom met with except in the 

 grounds of nurserymen. 



The double dwarf white flowering almond is a beautiful plant, and equal 

 in beauty to our old and universal favorite, the pink flowering. 



The double red flowering currant, double red Pyrus Japonica, with the 

 Spiraeas, Billardii, Calloso, and double Revesii, should not be forgotten by 

 those who are about to ornament their gardens. The Wiegelia, Rosea, and 

 Amabilis are becoming general favorites ; there is a new variety, with yellow 



