hy JLindley's Theory of Horticulture. 441 



in the way before narrated, did not swell as new seed does, and 

 had a mouldy smell; when sown, it came up thin and weakly; 

 the cotyledons, yellow and sickly, could not free the soil, and the 

 greater part died ; but in the third year, on the lime in the state 

 of powder being dusted all over the seeds at the time of damping, 

 and left for a few days, the effect was soon visible, in the seed 

 beginning to swell round and plump, and having the sweet 

 sugary smell of fresh seed when it is germinating : this continued 

 for twelve or fourteen days, at which time it was sown, and soon 

 started through the ground, with its cotyledons, upright, of a 

 healthy green colour, and as strong as the first year's seed. I 

 have frequently applied it since to other seeds with good effect; 

 and any person who will try it on seeds of the farinaceous de- 

 scription we have mentioned, will find them to vegetate more 

 quickly and strongly than those sown in the usual way ; but I 

 have had no seeds to operate upon, from which such decided, 

 effects could be expected. Every nurseryman who is in the 

 habit of sowing spruce seedlings knows that spruce seed will 

 not keep three years out of the cone and grow well. The ex- 

 posure to the air has a powerful effect in injuring seeds. A little 

 onion seed, left in a drawer and thinly spread, will not grow next 

 season, while the same seed kept in quantities, and tied up in 

 double bags, will grow well : we have seen a few pounds, tied up 

 in paper and laid separate, lose as much as 1^ oz. per pound 

 in a month's time. Carrot seed loses a good deal also; peas 

 well ripened not so much. The above spruce fir seed had all 

 the advantage of being enclosed in bags from the firstj but this 

 exclusion is only partial, not complete, and the second year its 

 food had been very much dried up and deteriorated; the third 

 year it was still worse, and had the bad effects continued so 

 long, that the vitality of the embryo had been encroached upon, 

 no chemical application could have been effectual. It is only 

 with seeds in a condition similar to the above spruce fir seed, 

 that we can hope for decisive effect, to badly ripened seeds lime 

 could be of no use ; and when the embryo has lost its vitality, 

 though it may assist in decomposing the food, it cannot revive ; 

 but, as I said before, if carefully done, it will be found beneficial 

 to all seeds, in causing the more perfect decomposition of their 

 food, and making them shoot into growth more strongly : it 

 should be carefully observed to keep the seeds always damp ; if 

 allowed to get long dry, the caustic effects of the lime will be 

 hurtful. I have frequently tried the oxalic acid, recommended 

 by M. Otto, without producing any perceptible effect, but neg- 

 lected to do so with the spruce seed alluded to. I am of 

 opinion, however, as stated in the article Botany [Library of 

 Useful Knowledge)^ that the air and water should be capable of 

 producing all the oxygen wanted. For seeds raised in hot-beds, 

 1840. Sept. g g 



