SEEDS AND SEED GROWING 81 



them before sowing. This may be done by sowing them 

 in a box of fine loam kept at a temperature of from 60 to 70 

 degrees. The temperature of an ordinary living room is 

 about right. For this purpose use a box about four inches 

 deep and the size of a soap box; sow the seed in shallow 

 drills and cover the box with glass to prevent rapid evapo- 

 ration. One hundred seeds should be counted out just as 

 they come, and be sown. By counting the seedlings the 

 percentage of germination of the seed is easily obtained. 



A Simple Germinating Apparatus. A simple method of 

 testing seeds is as follows: Take two plates and in one of 



Fig. 32. A simple device for testing seed. 



them place a folded cloth, woolen flannel is preferable, 

 since it must remain moist for a long time, but any cloth 

 will do. The cloth should be free from dyestuffs, since 

 they may contain injurious chemicals. Wet the cloth, pres- 

 sing out the surplus water, leaving it very damp, but not 

 soaked. Place the counted seeds between its folds and 

 mark plainly with a pencil on a piece of paper the number 

 of seeds put in and the date. Then cover with the second 

 plate, as shown in Fig. 32. Plenty of air will get in between 

 the plates, and the upper one will prevent evaporation. 

 The temperature should average as recommended. Com- 

 mon newspaper or wrapping paper may take the place of 

 the cloth, but requires much more attention. 



Sometimes seeds that barely germinate under the excep- 

 tionally good conditions that exist in a warm room or green- 



