46 THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



4. Necessity of moisture. Plant ten grains of corn between pieces 

 of cheesecloth in soil or sand that is quite dry. Plant ten grains 

 between cloths in moist sand. Examine both lots after twenty-four 

 hours and again after forty-eight hours, noting and explaining progress 

 in germination. 



5. Temperature requirements by different seeds. Plant ten seeds 

 each of corn, wheat, rye, barley, rape, cowpeas, cabbage, tomatoes, 

 onions, and beans between pieces of cheesecloth in moist sand, and 

 place in a laboratory oven or in a home-made plant box heated with 

 a kerosene lamp so that the temperature can be kept between 90 and 

 100 degrees F. Prepare another set of the same kinds of seeds, but 

 keep them in a room where the temperature is about 70 degrees F. 

 Another set may be kept in a cool cellar. A fourth set may be kept 

 in an ice box. Keep a daily record of the progress in germination of 

 the different kinds of seeds, and explain the results. 



6. Effect of depth of planting on seed germination. Plant sets of 

 Irish potato and seeds of timothy, radish, onion, corn, and salsify one, 

 two, four, and eight inches deep, respectively, in a box of moist soil. 

 Observe the number of plants of each that appear above the ground. 



7. Layers. In early spring, before the leaves come out, the rose, 

 lilac, and other small shrubs may be layered. Scrape off the bark 

 on the underside at the point where the branch is to be buried. 

 Open a trench four or five inches deep and a foot long, bend the 

 branch down into it, and replace the soil. A few inches of the tip of 

 the branch must be aboveground. By autumn the layer may usually 

 be cut off and planted elsewhere. Old branches sometimes require 

 two seasons in which to produce a good root system. 



8. Mound layers. Mound layering is done in early spring before 

 growth begins. Select a currant or gooseberry plant for this experi- 

 ment. Scrape half of the bark from the lower three inches of all 

 sprouts. Place soil around the plant five or six inches higher than 

 the wound, so that the wounded parts will be moist throughout the 

 summer. In late autumn the newly rooted plants may be transplanted. 



9. Hardwood cuttings grapes. In late fall select a new branch 

 from a grapevine, cut it into pieces about fourteen inches long, the 

 bottom cut being just below a node, or joint. Each cutting should 

 contain at least two nodes, preferably three. Tie into a neat bundle 

 and pack in fresh sawdust from green logs, or in slightly moist sand. 



