THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Januaby 18, 185!). 
217 
germinate differs in almost every plant. The seed of tlie Coffee 
shrub loses all power to gvow, unless sown within a few weeks 
after it has been gathered, whilst that of the Melon improves by 
being stored for one or two years, and Celery remains capable of 
germinating for five times the last-namod period.* These and all 
other instances within our knowledge demonstrate, that the more 
starchy and other matters, into which nitrogen does not enter as 
a constituent, that a seed contains, the longer will it retain its 
power to grow; and two familiar instances are, common Rice 
and the Kidney Bean.f Rice contains eighty-five per cent, of 
starch, and will retain its vegetative powers for many years; 
whilst Kidney Beans, which contain one-third their weight of 
animo-vegetable matter and other constituents, of which nitrogen 
is a component, will not vegetate healthily a second season. 
CABOLINA BICE. 
KIDNEY BEANS. 
Water . 
5.00 
Skins . 
288 
Starch . . . . 
85.07 
Starchy dibrous matter . 
425 
Parenchyma . 
4.80 
Starch . . . . 
1380 
Gluten . . . . 
3.60 
Animo-vegetable matter . 
799 
Uncrystallisable sugar . 
0.29 
Extractive . . 
131 
Gummy matter, ap- 
Albumen and vegeto- 
proaching starch . . 
0.71 
animal matter. . . 
52 
Oil ... 
0.13 
Mucilage 
744 
Phosphate of lime . . 
0.13 
Loss. 
21 
99.73 
3840 
Quercus robur (Oak).—At three years, 3 of 30 ; at eight years, 
none. 
Cucurbitapepo (Pumpkin).—One year, 35 of 45 ; at three years, 
37 of 45 ; at eight years, 19 of 45 ; at thirteen years, none. 
Tacsonia pinnatistipula. —Six years, none of 150. 
Matthiola annua (Ten-week Stock).—One year, 203 of 600 ; 
three years, 236 ; eight years, none. 
Erysimum Peroffskyanum. —At one year, 234 of 300; three 
years, 82 ; at eight years, none. 
Lepidium sativum (Cross).—One year, 262 of 300 ; three years, 
195 j eight years, 19 j thirteen years, none. 
Brassica oleracea (Cabbage).—One year, 67 of 150 ; three 
years, 11 j eight years, none. 
Crambe maritima (Sea-kale).—One year, 105 of 300 j three 
years, 6 ; eight years, none. 
Tropceolum majus (Nasturtium).—One year, 64 of 75 ; three 
years, 52 ; eight years, none. 
Anemone coronaria (Anemone).— One year, 46 of 300 ; three 
years, none. 
Pelargonium sp. —Eour years, 15 of 60. 
Bianthus barbatus (Sweet William).—One year, 242 of 300; 
three years, 181; eight years, 2 ; 14 years, none. 
Beta vulgaris (Red Beet). One year, 146 of 215 ; three years, 
155 ; eight years, 23 ; twelve years, none. 
Pisum sativum (Pea).—One year, 92 of 150 ; three years, 94; 
eight years, 15 ; thirteen years, none. 
Fab a vulgaris (Bean).—One year, 71 of 75 ; three years, 71; 
This speedy loss of growing power to which seeds abounding 
in nitrogenous matter are liable, is just what the chemist would 
predict, for all bodies so constituted are most prone to decom¬ 
position and decay. 
The following list, furnished by the late Mr. Loudon, shows 
the greatest age at which some of our common garden seeds ger¬ 
minate freely; and this result of experience is quite concurrent 
with our knowledge of their chemical constitution :— 
One year. —Peas, Beans, Kidney Beans, Carrot, Parsnip, 
Oraches, Herb-patienee, Rhubarb, Elm, Poplar, and Willow. 
Two years. —Radish, Salsafy, Scorzonera, Purslane, the Alliums, 
Cardoon, Rampion, Alisander, Love Apple, Capsicum, Egg-plant. 
Three years. — Sea-kale, Artichoke, Lettuce, Marigold, Rue, 
Rosemary. 
Four years. —Brassicas, Skirret, Spinach, Asparagus, Endive, 
Mustard, Tarragon, Borage. 
Five and six years. — Burnet, Sorrel, Parsley, Dill, Fennel, 
Chervil, Hyssop. 
Ten years. —Beet, Celery, Pompion, Cucumber, Melon. 
Now, in this list, generally, as already observed, those with the 
most of nitrogenous matters among their component parts are 
the first to decompose, and consequently lose their vitality ; and 
those with the greatest amount of starch and lignin, or more car¬ 
bonaceous constituents, retain their germinating power the longest, 
and for the evident reason, that such are less prone to decay. 
From other reliable sources we learn, that the seeds of the 
following plants have vegetated after being kept for the number 
of years affixed in this list;— 
Tobacco.10 years. 
Stramonium.25 „ 
Sensitive Plant . . . . 60 ,, 
Melon.41 ,, 
Cucumber.17 „ 
These periods are not conclusive that the seeds would have re¬ 
tained their vitality no greater length of time, but the following 
results are from experiments much more conclusive: — 
Gladiolus psittacinus. —One year old, 42 out of 300; at three 
years old, 17 ; and at eight years old, none. 
Allium fragrans (Sweet-scented Garlic).—One year, 143 of 
300; at three years, 102 ; at eight years, 4; at fourteen years, 
none. 
Asparagus officinalis (Common Asparagus).—One year, 250 
of 450; at three years, 97 ; at eight years, none. 
* Melon seeds, by keeijinpr, improve only in the sense in which gardeners 
consider the plant improved—viz., less of stem is produced, and the fruit 
is matured earlier. Whatever checks the development of the early organs, 
—the radicle and plumule,—produces this effect, and this is effected by age 
in the Melon seed; its starchy component diminishes in quantity, being 
gradually converted into albumen, a substance like the white of an egg. 
This is less easily changed to the soluble matters necessary for the nourish¬ 
ment of the parts of the plant first developed. 
+ Nitrogen is another gas found largely in the air we breathe; it is a 
chief part also of ammonia. 
eight years, 40 ; thirteen years, none. 
Phaseolus mullijlorus (Scarlet Runner).—One year, 67 of 75; 
three years, 47 ; eight years, 1; thirteen years, none. 
Verbena Aubletia. —One year, 55 of 300 ; three years, none. 
Cichorium endivia (Endive).—One year, 228 of 450; three 
years, 260 ; eight years, 139; thirteen years, none. 
Lactuca sativa (Lettuce).— One year, 53 of 150; three years, 
1; eight years, none. 
Baueus carota (Carrot).—One year, 155 of 300 ; three years, 
79; eight years, 1; ten years, none. 
Of the seeds which retained their vitality longest, the following 
are some examples :— 
A species of Hibiscus . . .27 years. 
A species of Colutea . . • • 43 „ 
A species of Coronilla . • 42 „ 
A species of Doliolios . . • 27 ,, 
These experiments were conducted by Mr. W. H. Baxter, 
Curator of the Oxford Botanic Garden, and were embodied in a 
report, made by Professors Daubeny, Henslow, and Bindley, to 
the British Association for the advancement of Science, in 1857. 
That our quotations form a very small portion of these very use¬ 
ful and carefully conducted experiments will be appreciated, when 
we state, that Mr. Baxter tested the seeds of 289 different cul¬ 
tivated plants. One general result of the experiments is, that 
very few seeds retain their germinating power for eight years ; 
and even if they do then germinate, it is not at all certain that 
the seedlings would advance into productive growth. 
At the same time, let us not bo misconceived as saying, that the 
changes mentioned are the only chemical causes for a seed s 
shortened or lengthened growing power. On the contrai’y, we 
are well aware there are other causes, and for example may be 
taken many seeds abounding with oil. These, exposed to the 
free operation of the air, gradually lose their vitality, or power to 
grow, as the oil they contain becomes rancid a change produced 
by its partial conversion into capreoic acid. Preserved trom the 
action of the air, no seeds are more retentive of vitality, ap¬ 
parently because, when so preserved, the oil they contain will remain 
sweet and unchanged for ages. This is the reason that in earth 
[ excavated from great depths below the surface, Charlock, Mustard, 
and such like plants, having oily seeds, are found to have retained 
their vitality. 
In considering this subject, let it ever bo kept in mind, that 
almost every species of seed has a peculiar degree of heat, and a 
peculiar amount of moisture, at, or approaching to wliich, its 
vitality will be excited into action. Therefore, in all observations 
on the life-retaining power of seods, and in conclusions deduced 
from experiment, it must be carefully secured that they have not 
been excited to those first steps of germination, which steps, if 
taken and then checked, invariably cause the destruction of a 
seed’s vegetating powers. ... . 
This brings us to the consideration of the contingencies neces- 
| sary to cause a seed’s germination. 
