108 



Principles of Plant Culture. 



and shortened life. In some over-vigorous plants, as the 

 tomato, slightly immature seed may tend to increased 

 fruitfulness. 



Slightly immature seeds usually germinate sooner 

 than fully matured ones. 



164. The Vitality of all Seeds is Limited by Age, 

 but the duration of the vital period varies greatly in 

 different species. Seeds of the chervil rarely germinate 

 if much more than one year old, while those of the 

 gourd family, the tomato and celery often germinate 

 well when ten years old. As a rule, oily seeds, as of In- 

 dian corn, sunflower and the cabbage family (cabbage, 

 cauliflower, kohl-rabi, Brussels sprouts, ruta-baga, rape, 

 turnip, mustard) are shorter lived than starchy seeds, 

 as wheat and rice. Oily seeds cannot safely be stored 

 in bulk in large quantities, except in cool weather. The 

 following table gives the average period during which 

 the seeds named are reliable for germination, when 

 properly cared fcr*:* 



Paris 



