368 
Supplement to the ‘‘ Tropical Agriculturist. 
[Nov. 1, 1897. 
Mr. William Carrutliers mentions an authentic 
case of the seeds of the sacred Lotus (Nelum- 
.bium speciosiim) which were known to have been 
more than a hundred years in the British 
Museum, being grown by Robert Brown. Dif- 
feieuce in germinating, says (Jarruthers. are 
mainly due to difference in the structure of the 
testa or outer covering of the seed. Where the 
testa, as in most cereals, is thin and soft, the 
dessication of the seed i.< rapid, but where hard 
and compact, the seed is protected from the air 
and the embryo is preserved in a living condition 
fora longer period. Thus the seeds of Canyia 
indica and Asparagus plumosus have a very 
tough covering, and the only way to release the 
embryo is to boil or nearly boil them for 3 
or 4 hours. 
Some writers on horticulture as well as botanists 
have drawn up tables to guide gardeners as to 
the age at which seeds will germinate. These 
are interesting as giving different opinions, but 
as not being of any great practical value we 
do not reproduce the lists of Beecher, Watkins, 
and M. de Vilmorin. The last writer, referring 
to germination, says that the duration of 
Ihe germinating faculty depends greatly on 
the condition more or less favourable under 
which the seeds have been harvested or pre- 
served. Nothing contributes more to destroy seed 
than the influence of humiditj' and heat ; these 
are difficulties which are encountered when seed 
has to be sent to tropical regions. There is no 
better means of preserving seeds than to put 
them into linen bags in a dry airy i)lace. 
When attention is called to the vitality of 
the seed of those indigenous plants called weeds, 
our experience is more at fault, and serious 
difficulties arise. How long w'ill seed survive 
which have been buried deep below the surface 
where light and air cannot penetrate ? It is 
a common experience to find the seeds of 
weeds lying dormant until again exposed to the 
elements, or brought within a reasonable dis- 
tance of the top, and noxious annuals and 
biennials frequently reappear where such plants 
have been allow'ed. to mature and ripen their 
seed, leaving a legacy for many successive 
seasons. It is obvious that no obnoxious plant 
should be allowed to reach maturity, as a few 
specimens are sufficient to poi.son a field. 
R'lind in Ids Vegetable Kingdom, referring 
to the fecundity of plants, writes as follows : — 
“ The fecundity of plants, in other words, the 
astonishing number of germs or seeds which 
they produce, is one of the causes which 
are most powerful in facilitating their repro- 
duction, and in affecting their surprising mul- 
tiplication. A single capsule of the white poppy 
has been known to contain 8,000 seeds, and a 
capsule of the Vanilla from 1,000 to 1,500 ; a 
single stalk of Zea Mays, Indian corn or maize, 
will produce 2,000 seeds ; a single plant of 
tobacco has been found, by calculation, to possess 
the almost incredible number of 360,000, and a 
single stalk of spleen wort has been thought, 
by estimation, to produce at least a million .“^eed.'.” 
Why does the seed lie idle so long in the ground, 
and in a dormant or lifeless condition ? Without 
sufficient moisture to saturate and soften the 
seed germination does not commence. As long 
ns the seed is e.xclnded from oxygen no move- 
ment need be expected, even if other conditions 
are favourable. In the case of seed under deei) 
water this has been often exemplified. Again, 
a moderate temperature must exist, or seeds 
will not sprout. Some grain will start at a much 
lower temperature than others, but this does 
not generally apply, and different species neeil 
different degrees of heat according to the nature 
and temperament of the plant. The common 
and coarser indigenous plant will of course 
always have the advantage over the tender and 
cultivated one 
TETERINARY WORE IN CEYLON. 
The Prevention and Supjjressiofi of Contagious 
Disease. 
Dining 1896 the Island ha.s been comparatively 
free from disease. 
Western Province. — During the fir^t half of the 
year cattle plague and foot-and-mouth disease e.x- 
isted in and around Hanwella. It was suppressed 
and the Province was free for the remainder of the 
year. 
Cattle Return for the Western Province, 1896. 
Number of cattle : — 
Buffaloes ... ... 31,904 
Black cattle and other breeds 127 86o 
Number affected by disease : — 
Buffaloes ... ... 4,683 
Black cattle and other breeds 13,026 
Supposed nature of disease: Principally foot- 
and-mouth disease. 
Recoveries ... ... ... 14,937 
Deaths ... ... ... ijgQ 
Central Province. — There were outbreaks of mur- 
rain in three villages of Yatinuwara and two villa- 
ges of Turapane, in Kandy District, during July 
and August. The villages were proclaimed infecte.d 
areas. The proclamation regarding Yatinuwara 
was revoked in December, the disease having dis- 
appeared ; that regarding Tumpane was .still in 
force at the end of the j'ear. 
There was an outbreak of hoof disease in Uda- 
palata in August, and certain villages were pro- 
claimed infected areas. Cases of hoof disease were 
repoi ted from Pahala Hewaheta, Pata Dumbara, 
Harispattu, Yatinuwara, and Tumpane, and of sore 
mouth from Pata Dumbara and Harispattu. The 
outbreak was not severe, audit was not considered 
necessary to take steps under the Ordinance. 
Matale. — Cattle murrain was prevalent in Wara- 
kamura and Purijjala in Matale South during the 
months of June to August, 1896. Three buffaloes 
and seven head of black cattle in Warakamura and 
four head of black cattle in Purijjala were attacked 
with the disease. Of these, one buffalo in Wara- 
kamura and one head of black cattle in Pur.jjala 
recovered, and the rest died. The disease was re- 
ported to have been introduced into Warakamura 
by .some cuttle brought for sale from Kuiicbuttu 
Korale of the North-Central Province. Prompt 
measures were taken aiid the siu-ead of the disease 
was checked. Only one other ca.«e of murrain was 
reported from Aluwihara, about two miles from the 
town. Poot-and-moLith di-ease prevailed in almost 
all parts of the district, but no animals died from it. 
NuWAB.t Eliya. — T here wasno murrain during 
the year. There was foot-and-mouth dise isa in 
