352 HORTICULTURE. 



ble bodies. Generally, the best seeds may be found by ex- 

 amination ; the plumpest and most completely formed should 

 be selected. Or they may be floated on water, and those 

 only selected which sink to the bottom. 



But this mode is not the best possible one for garden seeds 

 and fruits ; for the vital principle in seeds may be increased 

 by removing branches or fruits that are near ; by exposing 

 the seed vessels to light ; and by prolonging the period of 

 ripening. 



It is a well established law, of animals and vegetables, that 

 an unhealthy parent produces a diseased offspring ; the seed 

 will take after its parent. A vigorous parent will yield " a 

 healthy progeny in all their minute gradations and modifica- 

 tions ; hence varieties and monstrosities are matters of gene- 

 ration and constant reproduction." If seeds are to be sown 

 immediately, it is better that they should not be quite ripe; 

 for there are two periods in the latter part of the organization 

 of seeds, one before they are fully matured, when they pos- 

 sess the germinating power, and will flourish well if immedi- 

 ately sown ; and the other, when they are fully ripe, in which 

 case they lay up a large portion of carbon, and will not ger- 

 minate until some of it is abstracted by the decomposition of 

 water. Hence, if seeds are to be kept for any considerable 

 time, they should be perfectly ripe, and kept perfectly dry. 

 They will then preserve their vital powers entire, for a great 

 length of time. The vital energy differs in this respect from 

 1 to 17 hundred years or more, p. 42. 



If seeds are to be packed up, it is best to put them in coarse 

 paper, enclosed in coarse canvass bags and exposed to the air, 

 the seeds being made perfectly dry before packing. 



II. The prescrvatian of the races or varieties of plants by 

 seeds, involves many important laws of vegetable life, which 

 are of great interest to the practical gardener. This process 

 is applicable to all plants ; but is more important, and more 



