206 
or custard apple (annona triloba), and some even a longer period than 
this. * * * § 
The spring is the season when this vitality in seeds is especially called 
forward. A certain action, however, goes on even during the autumnal 
and winter months, which prepares for the grand metamorphosis. Thus 
the seeds of the monkshood (aconitum) and many other plants, require to 
be previously sown in autumn, when these appear the following spring, for 
if sown in spring, they remain from that time till the next spring for want 
of this action. 
But with respect to seeds, the period of their germination may be 
greatly advanced. 
The application of an hot-bed f is known to all: but the most remarkable 
effect is that produced from the oxygenated muriatic acid. J 
The seeds of common cress (lepidium sativum), germinated after six 
or seven hours, when put into the oxygenated muriatic acid; § whereas, 
when lying in common water, they required from 36 to 38 hours. 
Humboldt discovered that all other seeds obeyed the same law. They 
all germinated beyond expectation. It is necessary to take the seeds out as 
soon as the corcule appears. That the seeds are not impaired by the acid, 
is proved by the many plants that have been treated in this way, under the 
inspection of Jacquin, and in which vegetation goes on wonderfully well, 
though many of them had their seeds steeped in the oxygenated muriatic 
acid. 
* Yide Barton’s Elements of Botany. 
T Bradley, in his New Improvements of Planting and Gardening, p. 67, gives us the following 
receipt. “ Provide a bushel of bran , in which, after having mixed your seeds, wet the whole well 
with rain or pond water. In about three days it will begin to heat, and so continue to ferment, 
and when dry pour upon it some warm water, which repeat as may be found necessary, this will 
greatly accelerate the germination of all seeds, and I am indebted for this new artificial heat from 
the incomparable Sir Isaac Newton , to whom every art is greatly obliged.” The use of tan pits is 
upon the same principle. 
J Vide Sect. XXII. of this work, p. 77* 
§ As the oxygenated muriatic acid is not readily procured by gardeners, Humboldt recommends 
an easy process for producing it. Take a cubic inch of water, a teaspoon-full of common muriatic 
acid, two teaspoonsful of powdered manganese, mix them well together, and place the seeds in 
them. Apply an heat from 18—30" of Reaumur. 
