CHAPTER II 

 GETTING ESTABLISHED 



Do seeds germinate better on the surface of the 

 ground, or when buried in the soil ? Experiment with 

 several kinds of seeds both in the laboratory and out- 

 of-doors. The amount of moisture in the soil has a 

 great deal to do with the matter and should be taken 

 account of in arranging the experiments. What seeds, 

 if any, do you find out-of-doors germinating success- 

 fully on the surface of the soil ? 



How do seeds get buried in the soil? Find out all 

 you can about the agencies which help to bury seeds, 

 including wind, rain and running water, which cover 

 the seeds with earth and mud; cracks and fissures in 

 the earth into which the seeds fall ; burrowing animals 

 and insects, such as gophers, ground-squirrels, wood- 

 chucks, earthworms and ants, which bury seeds acci- 

 dentally while burrowing, or carry them to underground 

 storehouses; blue jays (and perhaps other birds) , wdiich 

 are known to store seeds by burying them in the 

 ground; and various animals w^iich trample the seeds 

 into soft earth or mud. 



How deeply are seeds buried by these agencies ? From 



(69) 



