FIELD AND FOREST. 59 



der the precautions taken prove the extreme care necessary to obtain 

 results that may be depended on, in investigations of this kind. 



But M. Hoffman's experiments are not unique, and in some cases 

 other trials seem to have confirmed the possibility of considerable dura- 

 tion in the vitality of seeds, though not so much as to lead us to expect 

 to grow specimens of prehistoric vegetation. 



M. Alphonse Decandolle, sowed 368 species of seeds collected in 

 the same garden at the same time fifteen years before. Seeds of only 

 15 species germinated of which five belonged to the Malvaceae, nine 

 to the Leguminosae and one to the Labiatse, 



In 1840, at the Glasgow meeting of the Brit. Asso. for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, Messrs. Strickland, Babington, and Prof. Lindley 

 were appointed a committee " to determine the longest period during 

 which the seeds of plants can retain their vegetative powers, the spe- 

 cies or families in which these powers of longest duration, and the 

 circumstances most favorable for their preservation." 



In 1 841, the community reported that a circular had been printed 

 extending the inquiries and inviting the co-operation of all interested. 

 The inquiries are divided in two classes, retrospective and prospective. 

 The first relate to ancient, natural or artificial deposits of seeds in soil 

 or strata, herbaria, mummies, funeral urns, graves &c, the second to 

 experiments on the growth of seeds collected. 



In 1842, Profs. Danbeny and Henslow were added to the commit- 

 tee. A curator was appointed to take charge of the experiments, and 

 seeds of 78 species, representing 60 genera and 25 natural families, 

 were placed in brown paper parcels in earthen jars with one ope- 

 ning and covered with sand. Some were also placed in porous earthen 

 jars with two apertures covered with wire gauze, and some in waxed 

 cloth. 



The Cambridge and Oxford botanic gardens, and the Chiswick hor- 

 ticultural garden were selected as suitable places for experiments on 

 germination, the treament of the seeds being varied at each locality, 

 with a view of affording the best possible opportunity for their develop- 

 ment. 



This committee continued their labors for 16 years making annual 

 reports. In 1857 they state that " so few (seeds previously collected,) 

 are now found to possess their vegetative powers, that it is deemed 



