THE MIRACLE OF GERMINATION

Spilanthes, in appearance an insignificant but nevertheless interesting little plant. Upon first setting eyes on it you would think it to be a worthless weed rather than a plant with a strong antibiotic quality. It can kill insects and cold-blooded creatures, as well as fungi and lichen. For warm-blooded animals and man it is, however, not only nonpoisonous and harmless but serves as an excellent remedy for those lichen, fungi and parasites that can be reached by contact poison.

This plant’s effect was important enough for me to bring home, although with some difficulty, intent upon growing i using it here. I knew of course that it only grows in a hot dir but still I attempted the experiment and planted it in my plant garden in acid marshy soil. It proved to be the right tion of soil for Spilanthes, and since the summer was hot the tropical plant, to my delight, grew almost as well as native habitat. Unfortunately, in early autumn a considerable c wave set in and although the plant had developed well, it cumbed to the first frost. This circumstantial failure nature made me sad. However, it turned out to my advantage that I 1 the dried-out, partly rotten plants lying on the ground all winter.

In the spring, in early May, I noticed some small shoots tha were quite different from weeds. How great my surprise when found that it was in fact a nice number of my African medicine plant. in the autumn, when the frost came, some of the plant’s rip seeds had evidently already fallen onto the ground where the patiently waited out the cold of winter. They did not serve as food for the birds during this time, and were thus able to germinate the warmth of spring. This was to me striking miracle ol germination, and a second miracle was to be seen in the resistance shown by the seeds which were after all not used to our harst winter weather. The seedlings, replanted in acid marshy soil, c now grow and by dropping their seed produce new plants ea year, until they finally get used to our less favorable climate, wi our tropical plant will then yield the desired crop without fail. It is amazing how extremely great the resistance of seeds can be. Wheat grains were found in the tomb of Osiris, and although they were 3,000 years old, they germinated when sown. They produced a strain of wheat entirely unknown in our region and in neighboring countries. One grain resulted in many stalks with about 2,300 grains. The arrangement of the grains was extraordinarily beautiful, like an open fan. It is no wonder that in the ancient world the Nile valley produced rich grain crops. But that seeds are capable of retaining their power to germinate over such a long time — from the ancient world to the present — is an eloquent miracle of creative ability and wisdom. In South American forests I also found confirmation for the 1vIstance offered by various kinds of seeds. On a spot completely i1nrcd of trees, where the full force of the sun could reach the gipuiid, various seeds had found their way and in time could p1 in mate and sprout. All kinds of strange trees and shrubs, even pnjnya plants, were growing in place of the usual forest trees, ghhough no seed-bearing tree or bush of that species was anywhere to be seen. They must have been dropped by birds that had iflen the fruit and all kinds of seeds, and that flying hither and lbiihcr had left undigested seeds on their short stops on the jungle floor. Since the seeds do not lose their germinating power, even

when they lie dormant in the ground perhaps for decades, when aforest is cleared allowing the sun to warm the earth these seeds ornc to life. This certainly proves that nature’s germinating power 1* ii providential miracle. In the deserts and semi deserts the seeds of many annual grasses begin to germinate after a rainfall and develop before the dry period comes. The grasses die, but their seeds ensure that in the rainy period of the following year, by the process of germination, They will grow again, turning everything green and colorful and blossoming two or three weeks later. But if such areas are overgrazed there is no seed-bearing vegetation left, and the following year’s rain falls in vain, because there is no seed anywhere to germinate and sprout. There will be no grass there and the growing cattle herds will lack food, spelling famine for them.Cutting down all the trees is a disadvantage in many ways. This lack of any possibility to produce and spread the seed can contribute to bringing inestimable damage and hardship upon the primitive peoples. They often do not recognize the basic causes for their plight and are inclined to ascribe it to evil spirits. They may also place the blame on the white race, rather than recognizing that it is only their own short-sightedness that has given rise to the disaster.People used to thinking and drawing right conclusions will appreciate the miracle of germination and propagation of life. The inconceivable variety of life presents unexpected surprises to botanists, zoologists and researchers of human life. It is certainly stimulating to explore nature’s manifold mysteries, for its treasure trove is inexhaustible for the studious .spirit of grateful men.