I'LANTS. 55 



iiidefmitcly. Peas arc said to have sprouted wliicli 

 were taken from an Egyptian mummy three thousand 

 yeai's okl. 



It is better to select new seeds for planting. Older 

 seeds may grow, but will generally produce weaker 

 plants. 



Unripe Seeds. — Seeds used for planting should always 

 be thoroughly ripe. The loss from planting unripe corn, 

 or '* i)inclied " wheat, may be many times as great as the 

 extra cost of better seeds. 



While the difference in yield resulting from jioor seeds 

 may n(jt always Ijc ai)}tarent the first S(^ason, if the prac- 

 tice is continued through a nunil>er of years the crop 

 will "run out" and liccome unj^rofitalde. 



On the other hand, by selecting the best s})ecimens of 

 seeds, year after year, the crop will be greatly improved. 

 The yield of different crops has, in some instances, been 

 dou])led l)y a continuous selection of the best seeds. 



Conditions of Growth. — There are three conditions re- 

 quired for the growth of seeds, all of which nmst l)e sup- 

 plied in order to produce germinati(jn. 



1. Moisture. — When a dry seed is placed in soil, or 

 some other moist suljstance, it immediately begins to 

 al)Sorl) moisture; it swells, and if the temperature is 

 favorable and sufhcicnt air is sup[)lied, it puts foi'th its 

 root, and begins to grow. 



The amount of moisture favoraljle for growth varies 

 with different seeds. Some varieties will grow in water, 

 some thrive best in very moist soil, while others require 

 comparatively dry soil. 



It is l»eli('vod that some varieties of seeds are covered 

 with a coating through which water cannot penetrate, 

 and that these mav remain in the soil for an ind(.'fiuitc 



