78 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Mar. 



iCafobfl' ^Department. 



BOTANY. -GERMINATION OF SEEDS 



[Continued from page 53.] 



Germination consists of the first chemical changes 

 and vital action, which take place when a new plant 

 is about to be produced. 



" When the seed is planted in a moist soil at a 

 moderate temperature, the integuments gradually 

 absorb water, soften and expand. The water is de- 

 composed, its oxygen combines with the carbon of 

 the starch which has been stored up in the tissues. 

 Thus, losing a part of its carbon, the starch is con- 

 verted into sugar for the nourishment of the embryo, 

 which now begins to dilate and develope its parts. 

 Soon the integuments bursts, the radicale descends, 

 seeking the dark and damp bosom of the earth, and 

 the plumulule rises with expanding leaves, to the air 

 and light. The conditions requisite for the germi- 

 nation of the seed are, heat, moisture, oxygen, air 

 and darkness." 



This cut represents a young dicotyledonous plant, 

 with its radicale, a, developed ; its cotyledons, c, c, 

 appear in the form of large, succulent leaves ; the 

 plumule is just appearing as a minute point between 

 the cotyledons. — Rodger^ Scientific Agriculture. 



Children— Every romp with them is death to a 

 score of gray hairs. Their games, moreover, present 

 such a contrast to the rougher contest of bearded 

 children, in the game of life, where money, power, 

 and ambition are the stake, that it is refreshing to 

 look at them and mingle with them, even were it 

 only to realize that human nature yet retains some- 

 thing of its divine original. — Selected. 



Twenty years ago it was common to trim straw 

 bonnets with artificial wheat and barley in ears, on 

 which the following lines were written:' 



Who now of threatening famine dare complain, 



When every female forehead teems with grain ? 



See how the wheat sheaves nod amid the plumes ! 



Our barns arc now transferred to •drawing-rooms ; 



And husbands who now indulge in active lives, 



To fill their granaries may thresh their wives. 



The Mother.— A writer beautifully remarks that 

 a man's mother is the representative of his Maker. 

 Misfortune, and even crime, set up no barriers be- 

 tween her and her son. While his mother lives, he 

 will have one friend on earth who will not listen 

 when he is slandered, will soothe him in his sorrows, 

 and speak to him of hope, when he is ready to despair. 

 Her affection flows from a pure fountain, and ceases 

 only at the ocean of eternity. 



To Young Ladies — I have found that the men 

 who are really the most fond of the society of the 

 ladies, who cherish for them a high respect are sel- 

 dom the most popular with the sex. Men of great 

 assurrance, whose tongues are highly hung, who 

 make words supply the place of ideas, and place com- 

 pliment in the room of sentiment, are the favorites. 

 A due respect for women leads to recpectful action 

 toward them — and respectful is usually distant ac- 

 tion, and this great distance is mistaken by them 

 for neglect or want of interest. — Addison. 



Useful Knowledge. — The education of our chil- 

 dren is never out of my mind. Train them to virtue, 

 habituate them to industry, activity, and spirit. 

 Make them consider every vice as shameful and un- 

 manly. Fire them with ambition to be useful. 

 Make them disdain to be destitute of any useful 

 knowledge. — John Adams to his icife. 



Apple Custard. — To make the cheapest and best 

 every day farmer's apple custard, take sweet apples 

 that will cook, (such as every farmer ought to have 

 through the summer, fall, winter and spring,) pare, 

 cut, and stew them ; when well done, stir till the pie- 

 ces are all broken ; when cool, thin with milk to a 

 proper consistency, and bake with one crust, like 

 pumpkin pie. Eggs may be prepared and added 

 with the milk if handy, though it will do without. 

 No sweetening is necessary. It may be seasoned 

 with any kind of spice to suit the taste— the less the 

 better. — H. — Ohio Cultivator. 



Cream that has been suffered to stand until rancid, 

 or slightly mouldy, which is often the case, should 

 never be churned; it may make very palatable cream 

 eheese, but abominable bad butter. Cream never 

 rises from the milk after thirty-six hours standing. 

 This may be proved by the lactometer. It becomes 

 more solid, and thus appears thicker, but nothing is 

 gained in quantity, and much lost in quality, by suf- 

 fering it to stand too long before skimming. 



Sago Cream. — This article, so grateful to the sick 

 is prepared in the following manner : 



Take a desert spoonful of good sago, and boil it 

 in pure water till it is reduced to a jelly. Add a cup 

 of sweet cream, and boil again. Beat up a fresh egg 

 very light, and pour the sago on while hot. Swee- 

 ten and spice, with sugar and nutmeg, to your taste. 



To Cook a Ham. — Boil a comman size ham four 

 or five hours, then skin the whole and fit it for the 

 table ; then set in oven for half an hour, then cover it 

 thickly with pounded rusk or bread crumbs, and set 

 back for half an hour. Boiled ham is always im- 

 proved by setting it into an oven for near an hour, 

 till much of the fat fries out, and this also makes it 

 more tender. 



