Germination. 29 



hastens their germination and often secures germina- 

 tion that without the compacting might be indefinitely 

 postponed. The hoe, the feet, a board or the hand- or 

 horse roller may be used to compact soil over planted 

 seeds. Seeds planted in flower pots or in boxes or 

 beds in the greenhouse or hot-bed, however, should not 

 have the soil unduly packed. 



34. Planting should be Deferred until the Soil be- 

 comes Warm. Seeds cannot germinate promptly until 

 the temperature of the soil in which they are planted 

 approaches the optimum for their germination (30) 

 during the warmer part of the day, and germination is 

 promoted little, if at all, by planting before this time. 



35. Germination may be Hastened by Soaking 

 seeds before planting. Since seeds cannot germinate 

 until nearly or quite saturated with water (29), and 

 since they absorb water faster from ti very wet than 

 from a damp medium (270), and in a warm than in a 

 cool temperature (27c), we may hasten germination a 

 little if the soil to receive the seeds is only slightly 

 moist, by soaking the seeds before planting in warm or 

 slightly hot water until they have swollen. This method 

 is sometimes practiced by gardeners with sweet corn 

 and certain other seeds, and its use might possibly be 

 extended with profit. The water should be heated only 

 to 110 or 120 F. and the soaking may be continued 

 until the seeds have fully swollen. 



Soaking is most important with seeds having seed- 

 cases that do not readily transmit water at growing tem- 

 peratures, as in the honey locust, canna, thorn apple, 

 hawthorn, holly, peony, etc. (27d). Such seeds, par- 



