SEEDS 75 



We are now ready to answer the question : \Yhat 

 conditions are necessary for seeds to sprout or germ- 

 inate? These conditions are: 



The presence of enough moisture to keep the 

 seed thoroughly soaked. 



The presence of fresh air. 



The presence of more or less heat. 



This teaches us that when we plant seeds in the 

 window box or in the garden or on the farm we 

 must so prepare the soil and so plant the seeds that 

 they will be able to obtain sufficient moisture, heat, 

 and air for sprouting. The moisture must be film 

 water, for if it is free water or capillary water fill- 

 ing the soil pores, there can be no ventilation and, 

 therefore, no sprouting. 



SEED TESTING 



In a previous experiment (page 73) the seeds 

 planted in the wet clay did not sprout (see Fig. 

 38). In answer to the question, "Why is this?" 

 some will say the seeds were bad. It often happens 

 on the farm that the seeds do not sprout well and 

 the farmer accuses the seedsman of selling him 

 poor seed, but does not think that he himself may 

 be the cause of the failure by not putting the seeds 

 under the proper conditions for sprouting. How 

 can we tell whether or not our seeds will sprout if 

 properly planted? We can test them by putting a 

 number of seeds from each package under proper 

 conditions of moisture, heat and air, as follows: 



