CHAPTER TWELVE 



HOW TO GROW PLANTS FROM SEEDS 



The sturdy seedling with arched body comes 

 Shouldering its way and sjiedding tjie earth crumbs. 



ROBERT FROST 



WHEN a live seed is planted under proper condi- 

 tions, it germinates. The tiny plant within it breaks out 

 of the seed coat, thrusts its roots out into the soil, and 

 pushes its stem and leaves up toward the light and 

 air. 



To awaken the young plant in the seed to active growth 

 certain conditions must be supplied. And the time 

 when the little plant is leaving its old home in the seed 

 and establishing itself under new conditions is the 

 most critical period of its whole life. To get his crops 

 properly started, therefore, the gardener must under- 

 stand when and how to plant his seed and how to care 

 for the seedlings during their early life. 



What seeds need for germination. When seeds are 

 planted, they lie with the soil particles all about them. 

 Everything they obtain comes through the soil, and if 

 they are to germinate and grow, the soil must be in 

 condition to supply their needs. 



First water soaks into the seed and gives the living 

 cells of the embryo the moisture required for growth. 

 Water also softens and weakens the seed coat, which 

 permits the growing embryo to break out more easily. 

 Without water, seeds will not germinate, for, as we know, 

 dry seeds may be kept for years. And if the supply 

 of moisture fails after germination is started, the little 

 plant dies. When the embryo has once begun growth, it 

 is not able to stop and become dormant again as it was 



