SEE SEED is the embryo contained in the fruit of vegetables ; or, ac- cording to Lin n^ us, a deciduous part of a plant, comprising the ru- diments of a new terraqueous pro- <iu6tion. As all the various vegetables, fruits, &c. used in rural and domes- tic economy, are raised from seedi;, the most eminent naturalists have bestowed particular attention on the subject of seleSiing, preserviiig, and sowing them. — We shall there- fore concisely state the result of the most successful experiments, under these respe6tive heads, I. The Selection of seeds de- pends principally on a proper choice of grains and kernels, at well as roots from the most vigorous ve- getables, growing under our own inspeftion : for, diough it be con- je6tured, that the constant cultiva- tion of a particular plant from the same seed, and on the same soil, will at length cause it to degene- rate, yet numerous well-attested in- stances have occurred, in which the contrary effefts have been evident. The most healthy stalks or stems should, therefore, be selected for bearing seeds ; and such as attain to maturity at the earliest period in the season, ought to be preferred, especially if they grow at a dis- tance from weakly plaots of the isame species 3 lest the fecundating farina of the latter be blown upon the stigmata of the former, and an inferior kind, or succession, be pro- duced. The proper time for gathering seeds, is the period of their perfeft maturity, which may be ascertain- ed by the dryness of the stem ; be- cause, when the latter begins to decay, it becomes " bleached by the oxygen of the" atmosphere," s»nd no farther nonrishmeiit can KO, mil, — VOL. IV. SEE [49 then be conveyed to the ripe seed. The harvest should now be com- menced without delay ; and nume- rous hands be employed in threshing and housing it, lest any shower should fall, and thus a considerable portion be scattered on the ground. II. Various expedients have been devised, for the preservation of seeds : the most simple consists in secluding them from light and heat in the bowels of the earth 5 where they will retain their vegetative power for several years. Thus, Dr. Darwin mentions instances of mustard-seed producing a crop, on digging up soil, where it had re- mained in a state of rest for many years, and, " as was believed, even for ages." In the same manner, the best cucumbers and melons are raised from seeds, which are at least three or four years old ; though some gardeners do not employ them, till they have been kept ten or twelve years. Where seeds of a perishable na- ture are to be carried to, or brought from, distant places, it has been found useful to cover them .with a thin coating of a mixture of pitch, resin, and bees- wax ; which com- position is termed mummy. Acorns and other seeds, thus managed, have appeared, on importation, as fresh as if they had been newly gathered. — Dr. Darwin conjec- tures, that they might be safely preserved by covering them with soft sugar ; and his supposition has been confirmed by the experiment of Mr. .Sneyde (recorded in the 16th volume of the " TransaSiions of the Society for the Encourage" ment of Arts" &c.), who observed, that such as were packed in su- gar, or among raisins, not only ap- peared healthy, but grew readily, while many others would not ve- £ getate.
