Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-05-29
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rov the Delaware loarnal
ESSAY On ADMINISTRATIONS. III.


Management, Of Ike seed preparatory to p ,ducing
rcgctutlOn.
The seed of the thorn of this country. especially
some OF them, are very SLOW IN terminating. The
oockspur kind, Gas there are several species
" allied III their naturc) are so tardy in coming for
ward, that they never vegetae the next spring en-
sung the autumn OF their becoming ripe IN the ltw
or berry, but lay I'LL the succeeding year; at least
III attempts TO get plants from them sooner has been
rborive hitherto. Therefore, a process to promote
Inns effect has been reaorted to, by those VINO wish
ed to RAISE them from the seed.
That process has been to keep them in a state Of
preparation, two winters and one summer, before
they were so"n or planted, in nursing bed; and
evca then considerable portion would not appear
under twelve mouths after planted in that manner.
ihl5 tedious process las discouraged many to at
Tempt the RAISING OF them. The general approved
mode no8 seems to be, to gather them in autumn
wien ripe and bury them in the surface of the earth
in suitable place, SO slightly covered as to be
wholly in the reach of the frost, ard all the viciss-
ndes of the weather, cold and heat, wet and dry,
Tor eighteen months before they are removed. Some
prefer stirring them in warm weather. but if so they
should not remain dry and exposed to the hot sun
shine so as to become very dry, because If Is warmth
and moisture that are the great promoters Of ger
mnation and vegetation; and il seems to he the So
lIdy and hardness of the nu that contains the kerr
mel that requires dissolution before the kernel can
burst its bounds or be liberated and this requires
length of time to effect the purpose
The Virginia thorn don't require such length Of
time to prepare, though when at first brought into
use amongst US, induced to give it the same
treatment lost barrel of the berries by pur.
sung that plan, many years ago. They were de-
Ilayed by the navigation freezing up which detained
them on the way, as they had TO come by water /
received them in the spring and used such means
rs would have succeeded with the cockspur kind,
but lost the whole They had lost their power of
vegetation, as unprecedented, by laying through the
first winter in bulk, in the cask, in the whole berry
The pulp, perhaps, produced fermentation so
as to render them useless, because in all hen
liberated from the pulp covering and afterwards
kept dry, they don't lose their vegetatve powers
, Though it was the practice to bury them as the
former, but one winter was found sufficient, and
from that it came to be the practice to rub the pulp
+ and coating off by placing them in tub, not too
. many at time, and take a stone with some rough
ness, they being covered with water, and rub OF
rlturate them until the coating is loose; then pour
# Oft and put more water on, trturang again anC
!, again. until the seed is completely liberated; then
after dry, hang them up in bag in dry place. ant
they are perfectly saved. The seed sent to sir
Sinclair was saved in this way and grew as hereto
d fore mentioned In the spring, as the grount
s. lis in good order to receive them, have piece wei
o. pulverzed and take the seed from its winter quar-
ters and pour some hot water in vessel until al
covered, Except the unproductiye ones that viii