Gjsfl \p A 
SO HINTS ON SEED SOWING. 
the length of the petiole when the fruit is ripe. The leaf and flower-stalks greatly resemble each other, 
the latter, however, being the thicker of the two ; both are " dotted with minute black asperities, -with 
the points reversed ;" but these do not assume anything bike the formidable aspect of the prickles with 
which the Victoria regia and Euryale ferox are armed. The flower is at first erect, inclining to one 
side as it becomes fully formed, the torus being quite drooping when the seeds are ripe. 
The Nelunibium jamaicense has not, so far as we can learn, been applied to any economical use. 
The plant is, however, very singular and beautiful, and is of considerable interest even beyond the circle 
of scientific botanists. This plant has no great geographical range, being exclusively confined to the 
island of Jamaica, so far as hitherto known. Loudon in the Hort. Brit, notices a " Nelumbimn 
jamaicense, D C," introduced to the British gardens from Jamaicain 1824 ; but that must have been a 
different plant from the one now under consideration. 
As it is exceedingly desirable to obtain information as to the success or failure of the numerous 
attempts which will be made all over the country to cultivate the various exotic and hardy species of 
Water Lily, as well as the Nelunibiuins and other aquatic plants, allow me, in conclusion, to say, that I 
shall feel particularly obliged to any one who may kindly communicate the results of their trials, 
favourable or otherwise, either through the medium of the Magazine, or by letter, in all cases mentioning 
the system of culture pursued and the names of the species operated upon. 
HINTS ON SEED SOWING. 
By Me. M. SAUL, Gardener to Lord Stourton, Aelerton Park, Yorkshire. 
JA S we have now reached the season for the sowing of seeds, I am induced to make a few remarks on 
iCi the subject. They are principally intended for amateurs, in whose hands I have sometimes seen 
good sound seed, fail not only to produce a good crop, but to germinate. 
Presuming the seed is good and perfect, there are still two points in connexion with seed-sowing, 
which are of paramount importance to the success and vigour of germination, and the regularity, 
strength, and luxuriance of the crop ; these are, first, the proper mechanical condition of the soil ; 
second, the regular and uniform depth at which the seed is deposited. The presence of air, moisture, 
and a certain degree of warmth is essential to the germination of seeds. In the absence of these 
agents the process of germination does not go on. The soil is the medium by means of which a supply 
of air, moisture, and warmth is kept up ; but unless the soil be in a proper condition it cannot supply 
these ; for if it be very dry, it will contain too much air and too little moisture to be favourable to 
germination. The proper condition of the soil for germination is, when it is neither very dry nor very 
wet : it is then moist but not wet ; it has the appearance of having been watered, and is easily 
crumbled to pieces by the hand, without its particles adhering together. Now, whatever state the soil 
of a garden is in, it must be brought into this condition in order to induce success in germination, and 
strength and luxuriance in the after crop. 
A state of too great dryness is of rare occurrence in this country ; but the presence of too much 
water is not very uncommon ; it is, however, easily remedied by drainage. The grand point is to get 
the soil thoroughly well pulverised. By draining and pulverising-, the soil will be brought, into a 
mechanical condition favourable for the germination of seeds. Temperature exercises a powerful 
influence over the time required for germination, and within certain limits, the higher the temperature 
is, the more rapidly does the process of gennination go on. Now, the soil receives its heat through the 
medium of the air, consequently, the surface soil is more quickly heated than that deeper down. 
Whenever the air is warmer than the soil, the surface of the soil will be warmer than that below the 
surface ; when, on the other hand, the air is cooler, the surface of the soil will by contact cool much 
more rapidly than that below the surface. From this, it follows that the most rapid germination will 
occur at about one inch or so below the surface, to which depth the heat will soon penetrate, and 
which, nevertheless, will not be so readily cooled during the night. On this account, seeds at this 
level will generally grow most rapidly, and the germination of others will occupy more and more 
time, as the distance between them and the surface is increased. It is owing to this fact that seeds too 
deeply sown do not grow at all, the temperature not being sufficiently elevated, and the supply of ah' 
being too limited to set the chemical processes at work which are essential to germination. 
I think I have said sufficient to show that vigorous germination and healthy growth are dependent 
on the proper mechanical condition of the soil, and the regular and uniform depth at which the seed is 
deposited. So convinced am I of the importance of attending to these points, that I invariably sow all 
our seeds of every description, never allowing a labourer to sow even a pint of peas. The consequence § 
is, I am very rarely disappointed. (I 
