128 Seed 



is safe to plant a few of the amateur's seeds but 

 not to depend upon them for a crop. 



When the seedsmen gather their seed only half 

 the work is done, for storage is as important as 

 production. Above all, the seed should be kept in 

 a cool, dry place until it is time for sowing, as to 

 store them in a warm place, more or less damp, 

 will result in their germination before the allotted 

 time. 



While seed should be kept fairly moist and rather 

 warm after planting, there is danger of keeping 

 them too moist and thus causing them to rot, or 

 the young seedling to "damp off." Both mois- 

 ture and warmth should be uniform. If the seed 

 are kept fairly warm for a few days, then allowed 

 to become chilled, the germination will be checked, 

 while alternate sogginess and dryness will result 

 in killing the life that is in the seed. 



Botany will have an added interest for the 

 gardener who is raising his own seed, and in order 

 to appreciate plant growth a little knowledge must 

 be had with regard to pollination. Pollen lodges 

 on the stigmatic part of the pistil where it germi- 

 nates, sending out tubes whereby the male genera- 

 tive cell passes to the ovule, fusing with the egg 

 cell, from which the seed develops. 



When plants are started from seed, two things 



