PRACTICAL PLANT PROPAGATION 



THE GERMINATION OF SEEDS 



Whether a seed sprouts or not depends on four factors: water, 

 air, heat and viability, or the ability to live. Each seed has its 

 proper or optimum moisture, atmospheric and temperature re- 

 quirements. For example, Mistletoe seed will germinate on the 

 trunks of trees where the conditions are often very dry. For seed 

 germination, ordinary outdoor flowers require a temperature of 

 from 50 to 70, conservatory plants from 60 to 80, and 

 tropical or stove plants from 75 to 95. 



The viability of 

 a seed depends up- 

 on a great number 

 of factors. Seeds 

 if immature when 

 gathered are not 

 so viable; they 

 will germinate 

 better immediate- 

 ly after picking 

 than when stored 

 for some time. 

 Pansy seeds ma- 

 ture in such a 

 way that only 

 some of the seeds 

 are perfectly ripe 

 at one time. The 

 best seed is hand- 

 picked. 



Frequently 

 seeds are affected 

 with insects or 

 diseases; this will 

 retard germina- 

 tion or make it 

 impossible. The 

 age of seeds is also 



important because every seed has a certain period of longevity. 



In some cases seeds must be sown immediately after ripening, 



else they do not start. Some seeds, such as those of Cucumbers, 



are better when two or three years old. 



Fig. 1. Pea seedlings 



