FIELD AND FOREST. 



6l 



loo sown, 69 grew; Phaseolus, 25 years old 25 grew. 151 packets 

 were contributed by Miss Molesworth of which, 



Cucurbita cucuzza, 13 years old, 40 seeds sown, 29 grew ; 

 " di spagua 13 " 



Melon, 



Memoja, 



Melon, 



Tomatoes, 



12 

 10 

 10 



9 

 6 



20 



50 



72 



6 



150 

 100 



II 



20 



50 

 4 



50 

 76 



A review of these experiments shows a great variation in the germi- 

 nation of even recent seeds, in many cases more than half of parcels 

 one year old failing to grow. 



The Legmninosce considered as a family, appear to possess much 

 more vitality than than any other, next come the Malvaccea, Tiliace(^ 

 and Myrtacece and lastly species of Croton (^Euphorbiacece,^ among 

 those whose seeds grew after 10 or more years. 



Numerous cases of alleged germination of aged seeds may be found 

 in periodicals, in most of which the evidence is insufficient to render 

 them trustworthy. We append a few that appear the most reliable. 



Author. 



Reference. 



Species. 



Age. 



Place whence ta 



Loudon. 



Encyclopedia Gard. 



Citrifaceiv 



lo yrs. 





Fancourt. 



Gard. Chron. 1856. 



Piniis Piiiea 



40? 





M.J. B. 



1863. 



Cress & Grass. 



33 



Bottom f>f pond 



MacLean. 



1855. 



Rasberry. 



1500. 



Roman tomb. 



Tupper. 



1843. 



Mummy wlieat. 



3000. 





Schleider. 



The Plant. 



" 







Des Moulins. Comp. to Bot. 



Hetiotropiiiiit. 



1500. 



" 





Mag., Vol. II, 



Ale die ago. 









1834. 



Centa7i!-ea. 







Burroughs. 



:' 



CentraiifJni-s. 



500. 



Cloister tomb. 



Decandolle. 



Phisiologic Veg. 



Mimosa. 



70. 



Jardin des Paris 



Home. 



" 



Rye. 



140. 





Gerardiu. 



" 



Beans 



100. 



Tourneforts herbari 



The growth of raspberry seeds found in the abdomen of a .skeleton ex- 

 humed from a roman tomb near Maiden Castle, Dorchester, England, 

 by Mr. Mac Lean, seems to be one of the best attested cases of ex- 

 treme vitality which has been placed on record. It appears to have 

 been fully believed by the editor of the Gardener's Chronicle, who grew 



