SEED-TIME AND HARVEST. 
22 
Increasing tlie Vitality of Seeds. 
The Country Gentleman states that Prof. 
Lazenbv, while at Cornell, tried many ex¬ 
periments with steeps on seeds, kept at an 
•average temperature of 65 degrees. The 
best effects on cruciferous seeds appear to 
have been with chlorine, and with cam¬ 
phorated water. Turnip seeds so old that 
hardly a tenth would germinate under or¬ 
dinary treatment, were treated with cam¬ 
phorated water and then dried by rolling 
in piaster. These germinated freely. The 
difference was striking. This treatment is 
easily given, and the experiment is worth 
remembering and respecting. In other in¬ 
stances, seeds which would germinate 
when moistened with pure water, in forty- 
eight hours, require onlj r from thirty to 
thirty-six h >urs when moistened with 
bromide water, and twenty-four hours 
with iodine water. 
The Editor remarks that it is not uncom¬ 
mon for some kinds of seeds to grow after 
remaining dormant for several years, as, 
for example, he has found peas six or seven 
years old to germinate without failure, but 
they were a week later than fresh peas in 
coming up, showing that seeds gradually 
lose their vitality until at last it is entirely 
gone. Some seeds will scarcely grow after 
the second year, others will retain their 
vitality for a long time. We frequently 
see the statements of wheat found in an 
Egyptian mummy germinating after thous¬ 
ands of years. This is fiction, or those who 
make the statement are deceived by the 
accidental introduction of fresh grains. 
Prof. Honslow, who has given the subject 
special attention, says that all such state¬ 
ments are erroneous. The true mummy 
wheat is dark brown and carbonized like 
burnt coffee and cannot grow. 
Old Seed Corn. Some kinds of seed 
lessen in germinating power as they grow 
alder, but according to a correspondent of 
*he West' rn Rural , seed corn loses nothing 
by ag'\ He states that good, ripe, well-kept 
corn is ; s good for seed after several years 
when perfectly fresh. He says, “I have 
planted it at three and four years old, and 
it all came as well as the first year. But 
I never plant corn, either of my own saving 
or that of others, without first trying it in 
moist earth.” 
In our opinion, in regard to the length of 
time seeds will retain their vitality, much 
depends upon the manner in which they 
are kept. They should bn thoroughly dried 
and kept dry to longest retain it. Seeds 
which are stored where they can cot j tract 
moisture, will soon become musty and 
rapidly lose their germinating powers, es¬ 
pecially if suljected to great changes in 
temperature while damp. If an ear of corn 
be hung over the kitchen stove until thor¬ 
oughly dry, we believe it may remain there 
for years and yet grow readily. When per¬ 
fectly dry, no amount of cold will injure 
it, but if placed in a crib, as it comes from 
the field, a hard freeze will kill its vitality. 
This Ring- FREci 
50 Elegant, Satin Finish Golden F.oral Cards, 
on, 10c, 7 pits. COc. and ring free. Sample 
Album, 25c. S. M. FOOTF, Xortliford, Ct, 
1838-1884. f AND MOST 
*lU-< iiAiWW* BEAUTIFUL 
EARLY PEAR. Ripening in Cen¬ 
tral New York early in July, and Sells 
'it Hiahest Prices. Send for history of 
Original Tree, 300 years old. 
Z-W* Headquarters lor Klelter 
Pears, Parry Strawberries. Wil¬ 
son, Jr., blackberries, M.*rlbor® 
Raspberries, Grapes, &c., Ac., 
W »*1. PARRY, Parry P. ©., N. J. 
ytSTPEAR HEADQUARTERS1t9\ 
--* other FRUIT TREES. /. ^ 
EACH and 
9-4 
UCUf MAY kINt 
WEW P&nill&d MARLBORO 
0EARLY CLUSTER!® 
hew CR APES RJfflfcSSi 
CURRANT* 51 . (T7 ’Catalogue.free 
J. 8. COLLINS, Moore*town, N. J. 
Mention Seed-Time and Harvest. 
R AHOOCAS!” 
The mod productive, hardy, early RED RASP* 
BERRY. Good color Fine quality. Carries'cell, 
A great Market Berry. Should be planted by 
every one. All dealer* ami nursery men should oiler 
it for Sprirg of I88;i. Send for history, description, 
testimonial* and terms W. M. MOON, 
11— (Co-Introducer,) Morris ville, Pa. 
109,089 PEACH TREES; 
ind a full sfo<-k of allkindsof Fit FIT and OK* 
KAMENTAL Trees, Grape Vines. Berry Plant* 
etc. Also Parking Moss furnished in large or 
ymal) tfuantixics at low prices to the trade. 
Uf It. •, COLE Sc 4 0., Bridgeton, N. JT. 
