Seeds in ripening

1048. Seeds in ripening become gradually hard and dry; and the preservation of their vitality for a length of time depends upon the perfection of their maturation. As, however, the first act of germination is to reverse the process of maturation, seeds sown before they are quite ripe germinate more quickly than those which are fully ripe; and those which are quite ripe germinate soonest if sown as soon as they are gathered.