THE A WAKENING OF THE SEED 21 



Not only is it important that the germ should be 

 in contact with the cover, but also that the- cover 

 should be in close contact with the soil. Hence the 



23. Seeds half-submerged in wet sand, to determine how the water enters. 



necessity of rolling the soil to pack it firmly about the 

 seeds as practiced by farmers, and "firming" the soil 

 about the seeds as practiced by gardeners, i. e., by 

 covering the seeds and then treading on them or by 

 pressing down the soil with a board. 



Since the opening is so important, it may be that 

 its position with reference to the soil may be impor- 

 tant when the seed lies on the surface. On the sur- 

 face of the soil in some pots (or boxes) place some 

 seeds, one -third with the opening up, one -third with 

 the opening down, one -third flat on the soil (see Fig. 

 23). Press all seeds firmly into the soil, so that each 

 one is just half-buried. Which germinate first? Corn 

 gives very striking results (Fig. 23 a). Does the nat- 

 ural position of the seed on the soil usually bring the 

 opening in contact with the earth? Do you see any 



