20 



Elementary Principles of Agriculture 



Fig. 16. Seed-testing devices 



surface, but also dryer. If planted too deep, it will 

 take a longer time to begin germination, because the 

 deeper ground is colder, particularly so in early spring. 

 The seedling will be more exhausted before it reaches 

 the surface if planted too deep. The seedling stage is a 

 delicate one. Success, therefore, in getting a good stand 

 will often depend on how well the soil has been pre- 

 pared for the seeds. The soil intended for the seeds 

 should be warm, moist and mellow. The particles should 

 be so fine that the seed will be in contact with grains 



of soil on all sides. Small seeds, 

 like tobacco, are merely pressed 

 into the surface with a board. 

 With such small seeds, special 

 arrangements should be made 

 to keep the surface from dry- 

 ing out. 



33. In Planting Field Seeds, 

 it is often desirable to put them 

 sufficiently deep to allow for 

 some drying out of the surface 

 soil. If planted very near the 

 surface, hot winds will often 

 dry the soil before the seeds 

 absorb enough water to ger- 

 minate. In such dry spells it is 

 sometimes desirable to compact 

 the surface by rolling. This puts the surface particles 

 in closer contact with the seeds, and the moisture is 



Fig. 17. An easy way to observe 

 the effect of planting seeds at 

 different depths. 



