172 
NATURE NOTES. 
Every well-ripened wheat seed may grow when sown the year after it has been 
harvested. But if seeds be kept for two years some will fail to germinate, and 
the number failing will increase year by 3’ear, till in six or eight years not a seed 
will grow. The stories of the germination of wheat that has been buried with 
mummies are only fables. The most vigorous and prolific crops are grown from 
fresh ripe seeds. 
1. Grnin sown three days, X 4 times. 
2. Section of i, x 6 times. 
3. Grain sown five days, X 4 times. 
4. Section of 3, X 6 limes. 
5. Grain sown eight days, X 4 times. 
6. Section of 5, X 8 limes. 
7. Section of leaf and sheath of 5, X 30 times. 
8. Section of piece of leaf of 7, X 120 times. 
9. Skin and stomates of leaf, X 120 times. 
10. Section of root of 5, X 40 times. 
“ Under the influence of warmth and moisture the plantlet in the seed begins 
its independent life. A seed of wheat will not grow unless the temperature is io° 
above freezing, while a heat of 104° Fahr. kills it. It germinates most vigorously 
at a temperature of about 80° Fahr. 
