Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-02-04
AN UNSETTLED POINT.
rh, Latesl Experiments rs to the vitality
OF seeds Ia the Earth.

rh, Latest Experiments rs to the vitality
OF Seeds Ia the Earth.
The yet unsettled question as to the
length Of time seeds will retain vitality
in the earth receives new interest from
n paper by Prof. Beal, the well-known
botanist Of Michigan. In 1879 he de-
termined to test by experiment the
length Of time some common plants
would have their seeds remain DOR
mant in the soil. He took twenty.
three kinds, and fifty seeds Of each.
Each lot Of seeds was mixed with earth
taken from three feet beneath the sur
face Of land that hnd never been
piowed. The seeds and mixed earth
were placed in bottles uncorkcd, with
the mouth slanting downward to keep
ont the rain. They were buried twenty
inches below the surface Three wears
afterward the bottles containing acorns
were examined, and the acorns found
all dccayed. In July, 1884, some bot
Ties were emptied into shallow, porous
saucers, set in a little water in
a south window. In the middle
of November the earth was again
dried, and not disturbed till the
10Th Of June following, when
the earth was again moistcned, and ex-
posed on test plates. Thiriy-siN Of the
LcPidHm ltrgWfcum, or pepper grass.
soon grew; nineteen OF the AmaTdHtus
rcfcTNs or pig-wced. grew, and Of the
following: Cdpseild bUrsd-pastoyIs, 90:
1Hhemis COtHla, mayweed, Ia;
HHoherd-5ieBHi'. evening primrose,
so; F0rtuiacd Oicracea, 10; Runner
crtspHs, dock, "A; Setdria qiauca. fox
tail grass, l3; Sieiiari0 Dicdid, chick
weed. 50; Trif0lium rcpcns. white
clover, ?; Icrbascum 7Hdpsus, MULLEN,
j5. In most eases the balance of the
90, or nearly so, grew the following
year, ard ia few cases did the seeds
sprout simultaneously fact which
Prof. Beal regards as exhibiting a wise
provision in nature 10 guard the seed
lings against the eyer-yarying chapter
Of accidents. In the following cases no
seeds grew: Ragwecd. AmbrOsia ar
fcnHs'giolta; black mustard. Brassica
HigrG cheat, Br0mVs Secdiins; fire
weed, Erechiies hicracDoiaj LychHis
GHhdJ0, the corn cookie; Maira
r0i"HdyOhd, common mallOw,
one only grew; BlaHtago
mayor, planlain; POiygOHUm HydTo-
pircr smnrt-weed; Th,ja Occidentalis,
Arbor-Yitm, and only the two white
clover already noted. Some of these
appeared to have tried to grow and
then dried. The great question is, will
'eds retain their vitality "for ages ia
tue earth; and, when conditions
change, sprout and make a forest. or
produce q wholly new growth different
from that within the memory of the
'oldest inhabilant. II Is already
known that many seeds will remain la
the ground several years before ger
under some conditions, and
That seeds kept in drawers, dry, will
also grow often some years Of such
treatment These facts Prof Beal con.
lrms. But the greater fact involved in |
he ages remains untouched. IL Is |
curious 10 note that q number Of kinds |
hat agriculturisis note as coming up I
ifier many years, failed 20 appear /
II all here; and this shows that the /
method pursued by ProisIjeal was not |
n full accord with the prescryatiye
'ower Of unaiced nature. ~ Y. Iide-
'ciidcHf.