ON THE PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 33 



possess their proper qualities, as they would not in that state 

 grow to their natural size and substance, or produce seed, 

 which is the essence of life. Seed cannot possibly vegetate 

 when perfectly dry, although the quantity of moisture requi- 

 site to its germination is different in different seeds ; for the 

 want of moisture, many seeds perish in the ground, in the 

 spring, when badly sown, particularly small, minute kinds, 

 which are often exposed on a dry soil, with a burning sun, 

 for several weeks, during which time the vital principle is de- 

 stroyed ; and hence the seed that was good becomes bad, so 

 called, and all the skill or management bestowed on it can no 

 more cause it to vegetate or grow than the most inert sub- 

 stance known; hence seedsmen are often charged with vend- 

 ing bad seeds, when the fault actually belongs to the planter, 

 whose duty it is to give them a fair trial before he passes 

 sentence of condemnation. 



Light. Although many seeds grow best in darkness, and 

 in many cases excluding them from light is beneficial to their 

 germination, they cannot continue to grow long without the 

 presence of light, but will turn yellow and die, for the want 

 of that stimulant to form their proper substance. In many 

 cases, seeds are covered, when sown in dry seasons, and 

 kept continually moist ; but when they grow, they are exposed 

 by degrees to sun and air. This is a good method, and may 

 be profitably applied to many kinds in the flower garden. 



An-r. 3. Propagation by Roots. 



Increase of bulbous rooted plants. Bulbous rooted plants 

 are increased by taking the offsets, or side bulbs, from the 

 parent plant, as the Hyacinth, Tulip, and the like. The 

 young bulbs are to be taken from the parent, and treated in 

 every way the same, with this exception, they do not require 

 so much room to grow, as they will not flower the first season 

 of planting. They must be separated from the parent with 

 the finger and thumb, and care should be taken not to bruise 

 them in the operation. 



