106 Principles of Plant Culture. 



more tlian one year old, while those of the gourd family, 

 the tomato and celery often germinate well when ten 

 years old. As a rule, oily seeds, as of Indian corn, rape 

 and sunflo-ner, are shorter li\ed than starchy seeds, as 

 wheat and rice. The following table gives the average 

 period during which the seeds named are reliable for 

 germination, when properly cared for: * 



Duration of Duratloa of 



GerminatiDg Power. Germipating Power. 



Average. Eitreoie. At. £xt'm. 



Years. Years. Yri. Yrs. 



Artichoke 6 10 Gumbo or Okra .5 10 



Asparagus b s Hop 2 4 



Bean 6 10 Kohl-Rabi .5 10 



Bean— IKidncv 3 X Leek 3 9 



Bean — Soy 2 (i Lentils 1 9 



Beet li 10 Lettuce 5 9 



Borecole or Kale o 10 Maize or Indian Corn 2 7 



Broccoli .5 10 Melon — Mu-.k 5 10 



Cabbage .i 10 Melon — Water 6 10 



Cardoon 7 t* jNlustard — Black or Brown.. 4 9 



Carrot lor .3 10 (Jnion 2 7 



Cauliflower r> 10 Parsnip 2 4 



Celerv s lO Parsley 3 9 



Chervil 2 or 3 6 Pea 3 8 



Cheryll — S\yeet^scented 1 1 Pumpkin 6 10 



Chervil — Turnip-rooted 1 1 Rhubarb 3 8 



Corn Salad .5 10 .Salsafy 2 8 



Cress — American 3 .5 Sea-kale 1 7 



Cress — Common Garden 5 9 Spinach — Prickly-seeded 5 7 



Cress — "Water .5 9 Squash 6 10 



Cucumber — Common 10 10 Strawberry 3 6 



Eggplant (1 10 Tomato 4 9 



Endive 10 10 Turnip .5 10 



166. Conditions Affecting the Duration of Seed Vitality. 



A uniform degree of humidity and temxjerature tends to 

 prolong the vital period of seeds, by causing little drain 

 upon the life of the li\-ing cells. Seeds deeply buried in 

 the ground are often capable of germination at a great 

 age, and kidney beans at least one hundred years old, 

 taken from an herbarium, are said to have germinated. 

 In these cases, the seeds were subjected to few variations 

 in humidity and temperature. 



* From " The Vegetable Garden," Vilmorin, .Vndrieux & Cie, Paris. 



