GERMINATION 



205 



the seeds, they will die from lack of oxygen. Seeds planted 

 in wet and poorly drained soil often fail to germinate 

 because the excessive quantity of water excludes the neces- 

 sary oxygen. 



Time Required for Germination. The time required 

 for germination varies greatly with the different kinds of 

 seeds as well as with the conditions of temperature, moisture, 

 and oxygen. Lettuce and radish seeds will germinate 

 under ideal conditions in a few days, while celery seed 

 requires a much longer period. Some kinds of tree seeds 

 do not germinate for two or more years after they are 

 placed in the ground. Therefore, in seed sowing, it is 

 well to know the time required for germination that pro- 

 vision may be made for such a period. 



AVERAGE TIME REQUIRED FOR COMMON SEEDS TO 

 GERMINATE 



Seed Sowing. Knowing the essentials for germina- 

 tion, one must endeavor to provide ideal conditions. 

 Much of the vitality and vigor of seedlings is often lost 

 by sowing seeds whose strength is spent in the effort to 



