2 PLANT LIFE 



Moisture. Most farm and garden seeds rapidly absorb water 

 when placed in contact with moist soil. The rate at which water 

 will be taken up depends on the nature of the seed coat; the tem- 

 perature of the soil and seed; the amount of water present; and 

 the completeness of the contact. 



The seed coat itself may be of such a character as to retard 

 the absorption of water. Such seeds are better protected against 

 germination at improper seasons than are other seeds with soft 

 coats. Even the seed itself may contain much oily matter which 

 helps to preserve it a long time. Such will not absorb water so 



FIG. 1. Germinating oats, on left, and barley, on right. Note that oats has three tem- 

 porary roots and barley six. The plush-like root hairs are abundantly shown. (Produc- 

 tive Farm Crops.) 



readily, and usually their germination is slower. For these reasons 

 some kinds of seeds should be soaked a few hours before planting. 



Many seeds will not germinate until the temperature of the 

 soil is nearly equal to that of warm spring air. 



Water must not be so abundant in the soil as to exclude the 

 air. If this be so germination of most kinds of seeds will be pre- 

 vented and the seeds will rot instead of germinating. Such a con- 

 dition is commonly found in wet soils in early spring. The re- 

 planting of corn is perhaps as often due to this trouble as to the 

 lack of sufficient warmth. Neither should the soil be too dry. 



