CHAPTER XI 



THE PLANTING OF SEEDS 



In order that seeds may germinate it is necessary that certain 

 conditions be met. In the first place, the seed must be viable, 

 that is, it must possess strong germinative power. No matter 

 how carefully all other conditions are met, if the seed itself is 

 weak or dead, satisfactory germination cannot take place. The 

 precautions necessary to the producing of good viable seed have 

 already been discussed in Chapter IV. Other conditions essential 

 to germination are the presence of moisture and oxygen, and the 

 proper temperature for the kind of seed in question. 



Moisture is necessary because the absorption of water is the 

 first stage in the process of germination. In the absence of mois- 

 ture, seeds will remain dormant indefinitely regardless of the 

 presence of all other factors essential to germination. It often 

 happens that seed improperly planted in dry soil will remain inac- 

 tive for weeks, and then sprout after a heavy rain. To insure 

 prompt germination, an adequate supply of moisture must be' 

 maintained in direct contact with the seed. This is accom- 

 plished by planting the seed in fine, moist soil, and firming the 

 soil sufficiently to bring the soil particles in close contact with the 

 seed on all sides. Moisture is then carried to the seed by capillary 

 action, and its needs thus supphed. Provision must be made for 

 a continuation of the water supply until the seed has germinated 

 and the plantlet become well established. In outdoor culture, 

 in the case of seeds that can be planted deep, there is little danger 

 of the soil becoming too dry before germination is completed if it 

 was sufficiently moist at the time the planting was done. However, 

 it is a wise precaution to scarify the surface of the soil over deep- 

 planted seeds and thus provide a mulch for conserving the moisture 

 in the layer of soil containing the seeds. This insures prompt 

 germination and an abundance of moisture for the seedlings. 



If the loose top layer of soil is dry at the time small seeds are 

 to be planted, but there is plenty of moisture below, very thorough 

 firming of the soil over the seeds may establish sufficient capillary 

 action to bring the moisture to the seed and effect germination. 

 However, the deeper the layer of dry soil and the shallower the 

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