306 HOW CROPS GROW. 
were 185 years old. Nearly every means reputed to 
favor germination was employed, but without success. 
After proper exposure to moisture, the place of the germ 
was usually found to be occupied by a slimy, putrefying 
liquid. 
The fact appears to be that the circumstances under 
which the seed is kept greatly influence the duration of 
its vitality. If seedsy when first gathered, be thoroughly 
dried, and then sealed up in tight vessels, or otherwise 
kept out of contact of the air, there is no reason why 
their vitality should not endure for ages. Oxygen and 
moisture, not to mention insects, are the agencies that 
usually put a speedy limit to the duration of the germina- 
tive power of seeds. 
In agriculture it is a general rule that the newer the 
seed the better the results of its use. Experiments have 
proved that the older the seed the more numerous the 
failures to germinate, and the weaker the plants it pro- 
duces. ; 
Londet made trials in 1856-7 with seed-wheat of the 
years 1856, 755, °54, and 53. 
The following table exhibits the results, which illustrate 
the statement just made. 
Number of stalks 
Cait contd a ene ES, 
Seed of 1853, none — 
«1854, 51 0.4 to 0.8 inches 269 
© 1855, %3 12 6 365 
1856, G4 16 =“ 404 
The results of similar experiments made by Haberlandt 
on various grains, are contained in the following table: 
Per cent of seeds that germinated in 1861 from the years : 
1850 51 54 55 ST 58 59 60 
Wheat, 0 0 8 4 3 60 84 96 
Rye, 0 0 0 0 0 0 48 100 
Barley, 0 0 24 0 48 83 92 89 
Oats, 60 0 56 48 72 382 80 96 
Maize, 0 nottried. 76 56 not tried. 77 100 97 
