176 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
found in some Roman tombs, dating from the second or third 
century of the Christian era, have not only germinated, but 
produced individual plants, which have in due course flowered and 
borne fruit. 
We must be on our guard against such prodigies as these. 
Although nature, as has been said, performs wonders, we must 
only believe in facts rigorously established, in order to avoid the 
mystifications and tricks which the malignity of the vulgar loves 
to play upon the infallibility of savants. 
e must not forget to speak of those wonderful seeds of wheat 
found in the tombs of ancient Egypt. It is now acknowledged 
that in this affair some one must have abused the confidence and 
credulity of the travellers. A variety of Wheat called Mummy 
Wheat is common, it is true, among farmers; but no authentic 
fact justifies its name. Though there is, as we have just seen, 8° 
great a difference in seeds as to the duration of their vitality, the 
difference is not less as regards the time necessary for their get 
mination. Some seeds, as Garden-cress, Poppy, and the cereals, 
germinate in a few days. Others, as those of the Peach, Almond- 
tree, Nut-tree, and Rose-tree, require one or even two years before 
they “come up.” This difference is owing partly to the size of the 
seeds, their hardness, and the woody nature of their integument ; 
it is due also to the presence of a kernel round the seed. 
There are some seeds which seem in such a hurry, so to speak, 
to develop themselves, that they even germinate in the fruit 
enclosing them. This very often happens among some sorts of 
Lemon-trees, and certain of the Cucumber family. ‘The embryo 
of the Mangrove, a tree inhabiting swamps, mouths of rivers, 
sea-beaches in the equinoctial regions of America, is developed 
inside the fruit, still hanging on the branches; and there can often 
be seen hanging from it a root more than a foot in length. 
cones eats “A 
