VITALITY OF SEEDS. 27 



These tables approximate to correctness. For instance, 

 the Cucumber, Squash, Melons, etc., are laid down as 

 good for ten years, I have, however, known very bright- 

 looking Marrow Squash seed be worthless the first year. 

 This was occasioned, no doubt, by drying the seeds by the 

 fire or in an oven. "Onion seed is sometimes spoiled in 

 consequence of its having been packed away before it was 

 thoroughly dry, which caused a slight fermentation so as 

 to destroy the germ. Onion seed is worthless after the 

 second year, but if the seed has been sunk iri water to 

 clean it, as is sometimes practiced, the seed is good only 

 one year. I have known Onion seed that was perfectly 

 dry and corked up tight in a bottle, to vegetate freely 

 when eight years old ; but if the seed should be bottled up 

 in a damp state, its vitality would be lost within one year. 

 Not unfrequently imported seeds, which have a long pas- 

 sage over the water, acquire dampness so as to swell the 

 seed and start the germ ; such seeds, if planted immedi- 

 ately, will all vegetate, but when dried again, very few 

 will start. I have known Peas, Radish, and other seeds 

 to be spoiled in this way. 



How much longer than the ten years, laid down in the 

 book, Cucumber seed will retain its vitality, I have not 

 yet learned. About eighteen years since we imported 

 from London a small lot of Sinott's Early Frame Cucumber, 

 which was said to be very fine for forcing. The seed wag 

 very expensive, 4 sterling for one quarter of a pound ; 

 we sold only small packages of it, and having most of it 

 left over, concluded to plant it for seed. It proved very 

 productive, and the seed was sold in small parcels for ten 

 years. Thinking it would not be safe to sell from it any 

 longer, it was tied up in a bag and put in a tight bin in the 

 garret, where it remained seven years, when it was discov- 

 ered one day, and curiosity tempted me to test it. I 

 counted out 14 seeds, 10 of which vegetated. As gardeners 



