SEED SELECTION AND PLANTING 157 



stated in the beginning of this chapter, that there 

 must be a harmonious combination of all the ele- 

 ments that enter into the business of farming to 

 make it a success. This last element is the plant- 

 ing of the seed. 



The best seed ever grown if not properly 

 planted is no better than the most worthless seed. 

 And that branch of the business of farming more 

 clearly demonstrates the necessity of mixing 

 brains, thought and study, with the business of 

 farming. 



Scarcely two varieties of seeds can be planted 

 in the same manner as to depth, season, etc. 

 Seeds vary in size and character of covering. 

 Some send forth the tenderest plants, and some 

 the hardy plant. Frost or cold will kill the one 

 and not harm the other. Some seeds that even 

 send forth the fairly hardy plant, if planted at 

 too great a depth will not germinate at all. This 

 is exemplified in field and sugar corn. The seeds 

 of these two plants, planted three to four inches 

 in depth in cold, compact soil, will scarcely germin- 

 ate and grow twenty-five per cent,, and generally 

 not at all. 



In many plants the character of growth is such 

 that if the seeds are planted at too great a depth 

 it is necessary that the plant readjust itself to the 

 conditions of planting which result in a checked 

 or stunted growth. An illustration of this prin- 

 ciple is found in the corn plant. Corn has two 

 sets of roots, one above the surface and the other 

 underground. The ones above the surface are the 

 brace roots which shoot out from the plant above 

 its first joints about an inch above the grain. 



