152 NURSERIES. 



with a sort of masonry moat possessing smooth sides and half-filled 

 with water, the section of the moat being pear-shaped so that ani- 

 mals falling into the water cannot crawl out. Pounded glass, dry 

 sand, ashes, chopped straw, spices or aromatic leaves may be 

 mixed with the seeds ; but this plan will succeed chiefly with small 

 seeds. 



Against insects strong jars, with every opening stopped up, may 

 be used; but, unless the seeds to be preserved are naturally dry, 

 they are likely to decompose in the close air, and generally the 

 easiest and least objectionable plan is to mix with the seeds bitter 

 leaves, such as those of nim, bakain, Vitex Negundo, &c. or some 

 powerful-smelling drug, such as asafoetida, camphor, &c. or fine 

 slaked-lime ; or a doifble receptacle may be used, one fitting loose- 

 ly inside the other and holding the seeds, the interval between the 

 two being filled with unslaked lime. 



B. Protection against Damp. 



Of all causes of destruction of seed damp is the most dangerous, 

 especially in darkness and when the air is still. It is also the 

 most difficult to guard against. 



Seeds with a hard pericarp or testa, like teak, Zizyphus, Ter- 

 minalia Chebula, &c., have little to fear from damp if they are kept 

 on a dry floor in a well-aired and bright place and not piled up too 

 high. A raised boarded floor, with the air playing freely under- 

 neath is the most suitable. The seeds may also be kept in stout 

 sacks suspended from the ceiling, or they may be stored in large 

 baskets supported on wooden trestles (Fig. 8). In addition to 

 any one of the preceding methods, the seeds may be spread out 

 and turned from time to time. 



Seeds that have little moisture of their own may be kept in 

 large jars of burnt or unburut clay with an opening at the bottom, 

 by means of which they may be taken out as required, and which 

 may be stopped with a wooden plug. But a less expensive method 

 is to plaster the large baskets represented in Fig. 8 with a mixture 

 of mud and cowdung, which together maintain an equable tempera- 

 ture and allow of a sufficiently free circulation of air. Wooden chests 

 lined with perforated tin, as described higher up, may also answer. 

 But when the seeds are very sensitive to damp, more elaborate 

 arrangements must be adopted. The double chest or basket, with 

 the interval between the two receptacles filled with quick lime, 

 should yield good results, for the lime, being an energetic absor- 

 bent of moisture, would not allow any to pass in from outside. 



