Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/70

50&#93; ro] SEE getate. Lastly, Dr. D. farther thiaks it" probable that, if" seeds were surrounded wtli newly burnt charcoal, or whifh has not been long exposed to the air, and then reduced to powder, ther might be successfully kept in a frehh. Btate, eiiherdtiiing long voyages, orin don>estic granaries. ^'III. The prober time for tow- tNG seeds, entirely depends cm the rrature; of the pbnts to be raised : aiwi ds.we state such seasons, when treating of the respeftire vegeta- bles, iti the order of the alphabet, wc' sliall here only menti on thfe opi- nion of Dr; D-vBAvix, tbatthe most advantageous method of dissemi- natiiig^ n-jfive plants, is by snfter- ii»g them to drop on the surface of the soil,- as they fall from the pa- rent stock ; being covered only by their deciduous leaves. But, when these germs of vegetation are im- ported from distant climates, such as will ripen in the same year, ought to he sown at an early period in the spring, and slightly covered Mfith mouldy in order 'to shelter tl»em from birds and" inserts. Qthers, on the coiitrary, which do no* completely germinate in one year, should be committed to the ground in the bcginniogof autumn, sin the depth of an inch and a half; both for proiecliug thero from the frost, and from the depredations of birds. As these precautious, how- ever, are fiot always a certain pre- servatlre, praiiiical gardeners have recomnoendcd the steeping of va- luable i»eeds in a strong solution of the liver of sulphur, for three or fmir hours, or such time as ■will be sufficient to penetrate the skiu, or i^tjsk^ by this simple expedient, all vermin avUI be effeclnally prevent- ed fromdevourittg the seed. SEG. SEG, or Carex, L., a genus of perennial' plants, ccimpreliendini; 1 1 7 species, ''45 of which' are irid?-- genous : the most remarkable of these are,- ■ ff - . . .. .1. The arenar'ia, or Sea Sfg, which commonly thrives in the loose and moveable 'saiids on the shores, and iiowersin the month of June.— ' Its creeping roots contain a ! ■ • pr,-)portion of farinaceou'? parti' :'-, ; from:which, in times of sca'rbrty, wholesome bread Iras been pre- P'.ired ; early in the spring, they are said to possess medicinal jwoper- tics, not" inferior to thoMi' of tfie Sarsaparilla. "■. ■ '' ±. The iWpina, or Grea^S^g, abounds in marshe:^, and on tl?e! banks of rivers : it flowers in IVIav or June. — ^AUhough thfc iij a perhi-"" cious weed 'in meadows, yet the whole herb may be usefully em- ployed ai< a substitute for straw, in packing ^oods liable to be injured by carriage ; for drying up swamps or morasses ; for the ere«^ion of dams ; and the sward tor fuel, instead of peat : its seeds are like- u'ise of service in feeding aquatic birds. 3. The acuta, or Slender- .sriKED Seg, grows at the sides of rivers, ponds, and ditches, as like-" wise in meadows : it flowers to- wards the end of April or May, This species is divided into two va- rieties, namely, the nigra, or Black Skg, and the rubra, or Red Skg, from the respetStive co-i lours of their flowers* Both are very noxious weeds ; as they not only stifle the growth of other grasses, but also afford food to in- sefts, which are detrimental to the healtJi of cattle. — ^The only econo^ mical purpose to which the Slender-f spiked 8€^ iriay be rendered sub>^ " ■ servient.'
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