Seeds and Seed Sowing. 109 



must put the stale stuff on sale again and again until sold. Con- 

 sequently, you are never sure whether the seeds you buy from such 

 sources are one or five years old, and this also accounts for the 

 frequency of the complaints about "seed that will not grow." 

 While it is true that we run little risk of obtaining stale seeds 

 when dealing directly with our reputable large firms, complaints 

 about the lack of vitality in seeds are by no means uncommon; 

 but I am quite sure that more generally the responsibility rests 

 with the party who sows the seed, rather than with the seed itself, 

 or the man who sold it. 



PRINCIPLES OF GERMINATION. Much stress has recently been 

 laid upon the importance of using the feet in firming the soil 

 over the newly-sown seed. I am inclined to deem the use of 

 the head in seed sowing of still greater consequence. Any one 

 who has a thorough understanding of the principles involved, 

 and follows the dictates of common-sense in their practical 

 application, will have no difficulty in getting live seed to ger- 

 minate, whether he makes use of his feet in sowing the seed and 

 firming the soil, or not. Yet in a large number of cases the 

 practice is decidedly commendable, and will often insure success 

 where the unskilled would otherwise fail. What are these 

 principles ? 



Moisture, a certain degree of heat (varying with different 

 seeds), access of air, and absence of light these are the chief 

 requirements. How can we best supply them ? 



The warmth generated by the sun rays is. our chief reliance 

 for the needed high temperature in open-air culture, without 

 artificial assistance ; and only in culture under glass do we resort 

 to various devices to save, augment or supplement this heat, 

 either by the prevention of loss through radiation from the soil, 

 by sash covering alone, or in combination with additional arti- 

 ficial heat from fermenting manures, flues, or pipes. 



Constant but moderate supply of moisture is another chief 

 point, and to insure it, the seed should be bedded in mellow 

 soil, and this packed around it just firm enough to bring it in 

 actual contact with it, and facilitate and make sure of capillary 

 action. If left loose over and around the seed, the capillary 

 movement of the soil water would here come to a stop, the 

 pulverized soil dry out in a sunshiny day and, depriving the seed 

 of the needed moisture, prevent its germination, or kill the sprout 

 if this has already started into life. Excess of moisture should 

 also be avoided. v 



On the other hand, the soil must not be compact enough 

 above the seed to hinder the upward passage of the young sprout. 

 This is a prolific cause of failure with seeds. While having 

 considerable force, yet the tiny plants only too often choke and 

 die because unable to penetrate a hardened crust of soil. This 



