372 Preservation of Seeds. 



more affluent circumstances, he would have been equally 

 ardent in his pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. He pos- 

 sessed, it is a consolation to know, in his own home, all the 

 comfort and happiness that can be rationally expected. His 

 great infirmities were vigilantly attended to, and affectionately 

 assisted. The pursuits of his family were congenial to his 

 own; whatever were subjects of interest to him, were also felt 

 and partaken by all. Whoever was his guest, was sure to be 

 gratified by the company of persons of superior intelligence 

 and information. Among his friends he numbered many 

 whose names are highest in the number of those distinguished 

 for botanical knowledge ; and these he considered not in the 

 light of rivals, contending for public favor against himself, but 

 rather as fellow-laborers in the great and general field of 

 science, which equally required the exertions of all. 



Mr. Loudon was happy and fortunate in possessing a wife 

 whose talents and virtues were as great as her affection for him 

 was sincere. She is the authoress of several well-known and 

 valuable works on horticulture and gardening. Since her 

 husband's death, she has received a most worthily-bestowed 

 pension from Queen Victoria. 



PRESERVATION OF SEEDS. 



BY MBS. LOUDON. 



The gathering and preservation of seeds is an occupation 

 peculiarly agreeable to persons fond of gardening. All seeds 

 may be known to be ripe, or nearly so, by the firmness of 

 their texture, and by their changing from a white or greenisli 

 color to a color more or less brown. There are, indeed, some 

 seeds which are whitish when ripe, such as those of the White 

 Lupine, and several of the Sweet Peas ; and others which 

 are quite black ; but in general, a brown color is character- 

 istic of ripeness. Seeds should be gathered on a dry day, 

 after the sun has had sufficient time to exhale all the moisture 

 which dews or rains may have left on the seed-vessels. In 



