352 AGRICULTURE. 



AND TPIE SEED. About a month or six weeks 

 prior to the work in the open ground, prepara- 

 tory lessons should be given on the soil and on 

 seed germination. These should include: (a) A 

 comparative study of the different types of soils 

 (sand, clay, humus, and loam), as to their color, 

 weight, porosity, size of particles, and power to 

 absorb and retain heat. (^) A study of the 

 seed and the conditions governing germination. 

 Some of the principal points to be considered in 

 these lessons are purity and vitality of seeds, 

 the seed-coat, depth of planting, time of sprout- 

 ing, and effect of light, air, moisture, and heat 

 on germination (see Chapter IX.). 



Samples of all the different seeds to be 

 planted in the garden should be carefully ex- 

 amined and tested for purity and vitality, dis- 

 carding all those that are impure or are slow to 

 germinate. For early planting, seeds of such 

 plants as the tomato, cabbage, and pansy should 

 be started indoors. In every case the child 

 should work out these results for himself by 

 actual experiments or observations. If well 

 done, this work will form an excellent basis for 

 the work in the outdoor garden. 



(2) PREPARATION OF GROUND. The soil for 

 this garden should be thoroughly prepared by 

 plowing and harrowing, independent of the 

 children's work. A certain space of ground 

 should be planned for and assigned to each 



