SEEDS 321 



as it becomes older, until finally it cannot be made to germi- 

 nate. This is a good general rule, but like all rules it has its 

 exceptions. Failure to germinate at all plainly indicates 

 poor seed ; but unusually slow germination or feeble seedlings 

 indicate declining power and relatively poor seed. Seeds 

 may " sprout," that is, the enclosed plantlet may break the 

 seed coat and begin to emerge (Fig. 5), but sprouting is not 

 a complete test, for there may not be power enough to carry 

 the germination to its completion, that is, until the young 

 plant has established itself in the soil and has spread out its 

 first leaves. It is important, therefore, to test the germinat- 

 ing power of samples taken from any lot of seeds obtained for 

 planting. 



The germinating power of seeds is tested in a variety of ways, 

 sometimes with great exactness, requiring considerable 

 apparatus to control the conditions; at other times with 

 varying degrees of exactness, down to germination between 

 two sheets of moist blotting paper. Since germination experi- 

 ments can be conducted by any student, and with little 

 or no apparatus, and since they are so fundamental in the 

 cultivation of plants, as many experiments should be per- 

 formed as the time will permit. In this case some of the 

 simpler methods may be used. 

 A very effective seed-germinator 

 for class use is constructed as 

 follows (Fig. 4) : the bottom of 

 a flat tin basin (like a milk pan), 

 painted outside and inside to 



prevent rusting, is COVered With FlG . 4. - A simple seed-germinator : 



water, and in it is placed the explained in the text. After 



BAILEY. 



saucer of a small flower pot. In 



the bottom of the saucer a layer of moist blotting paper is 

 placed ; on it are laid the seeds to be germinated ; and on the 

 seeds another layer of blotting paper is placed. A pane of glass 

 is used as a cover for the pan, and the apparatus is complete. 



