Annual Report of the Consulting Botanist for 1876. 245 
reflections of the British Museum, and most probably several 
years more in the possession of Sir Hans Sloane. The state- 
ments as to great longevity in seeds, like those of the mummy 
wheat, are unproved and incredible. 
The question of the longevity of the seeds of cultivated plants 
is of such importance, that I am undertaking a series of experi- 
ments with the view of determining the period in each case at 
which the power of germination is lost, that is, at which the life 
of the embryo in the seed is destroyed. I obtained, through the 
favour of Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, a large series of suitable seeds 
for these investigations. 
I propose to lay before the members of the Society in the next 
number of the 'Journal,' a paper on the seeds of the cultivated 
clovers, with an account of the defects and impurities which 
may be found in them. By the help of carefully prepared illus- 
trations, I hope to make the subject plain and practically useful. 
Besides the investigation of seeds for growing, I had sub- 
mitted to me a sample of linseed on which some young calves 
were being fed, when some of them were seized with an inflam- 
matory attack of the stomach and bowels, supposed to be due to 
their food. I found, however, that the seed was good, and that 
•the very few weeds accidentally present were of a harmless 
character, so that the cause of the malady had to be sought for 
in another direction. 
Specimens of young lucerne were observed by Mr. C. Sewell 
Read, M.P., on his farm to be suffering from the attack of an insect 
underground. I examined several specimens, but the injury was 
too advanced when it was brought under my notice to show the 
insect which had produced it. A similar disease appeared 
among some oats on Mr. Read's farm in 1875. The tissues of 
the oats were destroyed at the base of the stem ; this prevented 
the rise of the sap, and the plants died. Mr. Read observed the 
same disease last year on Mr. Mechi's farm at Tiptree, also in 
his oats. I have arranged with Mr. Read to make these diseases 
a subject of special study should they make their appearance 
another year at Hovingham. 
The Viscount Barbaqena of Brazil sought my advice in April 
last as to the reclaiming extensive sandy regions on the coast of 
Brazil, and preventing the progress of moving sands which were 
converting valuable cultivated lands into barren wastes. This 
subject has been fully treated of in a recent number of the 
Society's Journal, but the conditions of vegetable life in Brazil 
had to be taken into account in considering what plants would 
be fitted for sand wastes there. I prepared a report on the 
subject, recommending a series of experiments with various 
plants, which were to be instituted in the course of this year on 
