28 Principles of Plant Culture. 



in water. But even these will not germinate in water 

 that has been boiled long enough to expel the oxygen, 

 and'is placed under conditions that prevent its ab- 

 sorption again (Fig. 5). 



We thus see that seeds require three conditions be- 

 fore they can germinate, viz., a certain amount of 

 3, of warmth and of oxygen. In planting seeds, 



we should consider all these requirements. 



;32. Prompt Germination is Important. As a rule, 

 the sooner a seed germinates after it is planted, the 

 better, for it is generally in danger of being destroyed 

 by animals or fungi, and the plantlet probably loses 



vigor by too slaw 

 development. 

 Weeds may also be 

 gaining a start if 

 germination is de- 

 layed. We should, 

 therefore, treat 

 both the seed and 

 the soil in the way 

 that favors prompt 

 germination. 



FIG. 5. In the left -bottle, the water, which had been boiled to 

 expel the oxygen, was covered with oil to prevent it from absorb- 

 ing oxygen again, hence the rice seeds in it could not germinate. 

 In the right bottle the water was not covered, and so could ab- 

 sorb oxygen, permitting the seeds to germinate. (From nature.) 



33. Compacting the Soil about planted 

 Hastens Germination by multiplying their points of 

 contact with the moist earth (276). When the soil is 

 becoming drier day by day, as it often is in spring, 

 compacting the soil about planted seeds materially 



