propagatiox froim seeds, 



139 



peneti-ate to a considerable deptli ; and, hence, would be impeded in their 

 progress, if sufficient depth of mould was not allowed for them. 



When the seeds are sown, they should be moderately watered ; for 

 water is the principal agent in promoting germination, and without it, 

 seeds would remain for ever in a dormant state. If the seeds of Ama- 

 ryllis, which are not very small, be covered with finely sifted mould, 

 similar to that on which they are sown, to the depth of one eighth of an 

 inch, and lai'ger or smaller seeds in a relative proportion, they will vege- 

 tate freely. Seeds, if too deeply covered, will not vegetate at all, because 

 they are placed beyond the influence of air, and different seeds seem to re- 

 quire very different quantities of air, in order to fmther their germination. 

 In order that seeds may germinate readily, it is not only necessaiy to expose 

 them to the influence of the air, but that the air should be pure, or at 

 least as pure as that of the atmosphere. The experiments of M. Achard 

 and other philosophers, have proved that seeds will not germinate in 

 azotic gas, CcLrbonic acid gas, nor hydrogen gas. Bierkander, a Swedish 

 author, has instituted some curious experiments relative to the germina- 

 tion of seeds of various kinds, at different depths under ground. He 

 found that the seeds of flax would never vegetate if buried below a certain 

 depth in the earth. And the seeds of black oats, after having lain deeply 

 buried in the ground in a soil in Scotland for half a century, grew 

 vigorously when the gi'ound was trenched up and the seeds brought 

 nearer to the surface. 



The pots in which the seeds of bulbous-rooted plants are sown, should 

 be placed in a cool pit or frame, tiU they have vegetated, afterwards 

 they wiU only require to be regulai'ly watered, kept free from weeds, 

 and fully exposed to the sun and air, the great object being to enable 

 them to form as large and perfect leaves as possible, and to prolong the 

 season of their growth to as late a period of the autumn as possible. 

 WTien the foHage begins to turn yellowish, water should be gradually 

 withheld, and as the foliage dies off it should be discontinued entirely. 

 During winter, the young bulbs should be kept diy iii the pots till spring, 

 when they are to be taken out, re-potted, and excited into vegetation the 

 following season. The best place in which to keep such pots during winter, 

 is in the cavity formed under the platform, as represented in our diagrams ; 

 and, when such is not provided for them, placing them on a dry shelf, 

 where no water can reach them, during their season of rest, will be 

 nearly as well. They may also be placed under the stage of any ordinary 

 greenhouse or pit, where frost or damp cannot injure them, laid over on 



