Germination. 247 
warmth and of oxygen. In planting seeds, we should con- 
sider all these requirements. 
32. Prompt Germination is Important. As a rule, 
the sooner a seed germinates after it is planted, the better, 
for it is generally in danger of being destroyed by animals 
or fungi, and the plantlet probably loses vigor by too slow 
development. Weeds may also be gaining a start if ger- 
mination is delayed. We should, therefore, treat both the 
seed and the soil in the way that favors prompt germination. 
33. Compacting the Soil about planted seeds Hastens 
Germination by multiplying their points of contact with 
the moist earth (27). When the soil is becoming drier 
day by day, as it often is in spring, compacting the soil 
about planted seeds materially hastens their germination 
and often sccures germination that without the compacting 
might be indefinitely postponed. The hoe, the feet, a board, 
or the hand or horse roller may be used to compact soil over 
planted seeds. 
34. Planting should be Deferred until the Soil be- 
comes Warm. Seeds cannot germinate promptly until the 
temperature of the soil in which they are planted ap- 
proaches the optimum for their germination (30) during 
the warmer part of the day, and germination is little, if at 
all, promoted by planting before this time. 
35. Excess of Water in the soil Retards Germina= 
tion by restricting the supply of oxygen (31), and some- 
times, by keeping the soil cold. Seeds should not be planted 
in soil wet enough to puddle (31) about them, nor should 
the soil in which the seeds of land plants are planted be so 
freely watered that the seeds remain surrounded with liquid 
water, thus shutting out the normal supply of oxygen. 
