GERMINATION 



203 



LONGEVITY OF SEEDS 

 (From Vilmorin's Tables) 



External Requirements for Germination. A seed, being 

 a live plant in a dormant state, requires certain external 

 conditions to resume its active growth. So long as any 

 one of these conditions is wanting, the seed remains dor- 

 mant and finally dies. The conditions necessary for 

 germination are abundant moisture, warmth, and the 

 presence of oxygen. 



Moisture. So long as seeds are kept dry, no matter 

 how warm the surroundings may be, they will not ger- 

 minate. The degree of moisture generally needed to start 

 germination is complete saturation. To seeds in the soil, the 

 moisture is furnished by the capillary action of soil water, 

 and the more quickly this saturation takes place, other 

 conditions being favorable, the sooner the seeds germinate. 



