42 



that it should in as short a time as possible, acquire 

 sufficient strength to resist these influences. The 

 importance of this proceeding being thus shown, it 

 is performed as follows : 



The seed is steeped for 48 hours in juice of ma- 

 nure, and afterwards kept damp for two or three 

 days in thin layers of 4 inches(in sacks for example). 

 In this way it remains without heating five days at a 

 temperature of from 60 to 65. 



As an example of the effect of this system, I will 

 cite one instance : the same sort of seed prepared and 

 unprepared had been sown, otherwise under iden- 

 tically the same conditions; on the 12th april the 

 unprepared seed and on the 18th those that had been 

 prepared* The prepared seed sprang up on the '26th 

 april, that is to say at the end of 8 days, and the 

 unprepared on the 2nd may, that is to say, at the 

 end of twenty days, say a difference of 12 days. 



If prepared seed is employed, care must be taken 

 before sowing, to mix it with dust, so that it may 

 pass through the machine easily. 



Whether prepared or unprepared seed is used, 

 it must be sown. 



The soil has received all necessary preparation, 

 and presents a well evened surface of fine earth, 

 free from lumps, in fact it is ready to receive the 

 seed. 



The time for sowing cannot be fixed by absolute 

 rules, lor each region and each year even, special 

 circumstances arise which may modify the choice 



