44 MARKET GARDENING. 



thrive only in warmer soil, as the bean, corn, cucumber, 

 canteloupe. watermelon, pumpkin, squash, okra. 



No occupation of business, no occupation of pleas- 

 ure, affords so much for interesting study, as the growth 

 and treatment of vegetables, and the study of their soils, 

 their fertilizers and tillage. It must be borne in mind, 

 however, that those who would avoid labor should leave 

 gardening alone, because it is a perpetual combat with 

 enemies, rain, drouth, frost, heat, weeds, insects, and 

 the unexpected from every quarter. 



CHAPTER VII. 

 GERMINATION. 



The process of germination may be said to cover 

 that period of time from the moment of planting the 

 dry seed to the appearance of the new plant, and con- 

 tinuously on till the young plant, exhausting the food 

 stored in the mother seed, is capable of sustaining itself 

 by attachment to the soil. Very few garden seeds will 

 start at a lower temperature than 50, many requiring a 

 warmth of 70. On the other hand, too much heat 

 dries up the germ, few kinds resisting a temperature 

 above 120. The moist, rapid germination of seeds in 

 general is at a temperature from 70 to 90. Under low 

 temperature root growth is very slow, while under high 

 temperature the development of roots is far in excess of 

 a counter-balancing leaf development. 



Moisture is indispensable to germination, but the 

 amount most favorable varies with different plants ; for 

 instance, son^a seeds will only start when in water. Gar- 

 den seeds will do best when the land is moist, but not 

 wet ; too much moisture causes decay ; and they 



