THE STOVE. 



13 



pregnated with oxymuriatic acid, and this has been tried in 

 the Clapton Nursery, in regard to accelerating the vegetation 

 of the seeds of Banksiasy and other New Holland seeds, that 

 do not vegetate freely. There are other gases which have a 

 different effect, namely, nitrogen gas, carbonic acid gas, and 

 hydrogen gas, which, according the experiments of Archard, 

 prevent the germination of seeds, unless mixed with a cer- 

 tain proportion of oxygen gas, which led him to conclude 

 that the latter gas is necessary to the vegetation of seeds, and 

 the only constituent part of the atmospheric air which is abso- 

 lutely necessary for that process. 



No seed will germinate at or below the freezing point, 

 although placed in their proper soil, and hence seeds do not 

 spring during winter. Heat and moisture are the principal 

 agents for producing this effect, and whenever these are sup- 

 plied, as a consequence, atmospheric air accompanies them. 



As there is much difficulty in procuring seeds of some 

 species from India in a state fit for vegetation, no time 

 should be therefore lost in sowing them upon their arrival. 

 The late Gushing, in regard to the season for sowing tro- 

 pical seeds, observes, " As the spring is undoubtedly the best 

 time for sowing, a few weeks delay may, in some instances, 

 be advisable. If received late in October or November, 

 wait till January, or perhaps February, unless it evidently 

 appears that they will not keep out of the earth so long a 

 time in a vegetative state. Those which can be sown before 

 August, have a good chance to acquire sufficient strength of 

 growth to carry them through the winter-months, so adverse 

 to the general efforts of young vegetable life." On preparing 

 the pots, mould, &c., and sowing the seeds, the same author 

 continues : — " The pots being well drained, should be filled 

 with the compost suitable to the species of plant of which the 

 seed intended to be sown has been produced : let it be pressed 

 down to about a third, or half an inch, below the rim, accord- 

 ing to the size of the seeds ; if they be small or light sorts, 

 it will be necessary to press it pretty tight, and to add a little 

 very fine sifted mould, on which to deposit the seeds, previously 

 smoothing it. with a bit of thin flat wood, bent so as to lie on 

 it level. Being thus prepared, let the seed be sown regularly 



