THE WHEAT CROP. 33 



of the holes are apt to fall in with the seed, or before it is 

 quite deposited, and then the depth is irregular, often too 

 little. If the soil is heavy, or too wet, the dibble forms a 

 hole, or cup, with compressed sides and bottom, in which 

 the water collects, checks the germination of the seed, and 

 materially injures or destroys the vitality of the young 

 plant. 



We have now selected our seed, steeped or pickled it 

 by means of one of the preparations already described, 

 and deposited it under satisfactory conditions in the soil ; 

 the seed-harrows have been sent over the field, and the 

 operation of sowing has been completed. Then the initial 

 act of reproduction the process of germination com- 

 mences; and as this process is a very beautiful and 

 extremely interesting one, though, at the same time, very 

 little understood, it is worth more than a passing remark. 

 It can, however, be more readily and appropriately dis- 

 cussed in the next Part. When barley comes before us, 

 as in the steep of the malt-house, the same effects are 

 produced on the mass of grain as on the individual seed 

 when placed under suitable conditions in the soil. In the 

 malt-house the effects produced by the various changes in 

 the grain are known and carefully watched, the success of 

 the operation depending on their regular progress, while 

 in the soil the grain is hidden from our sight, and passes 

 through its various gradations of vegetable development 

 unheeded and uncared for by those who placed it there, 

 and whose success is largely influenced with its own. 



Certain conditions are absolutely necessary for germina- 

 tion ; these are absence of light, the presence of a certain 

 amount of moisture and of temperature, and access to air 

 (on. account of the oxygen contained in it). If these con- 

 ditions are not secured to the seed, your wheat will not 

 germinate, and you will have no plant. This state of 

 things is often met with practically on a farm. The land, 



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