INTRODUCTION. XI 



contrary, they will not germinate if put in late so 

 that they cannot have the benefit of these influences, 

 which would be fatal to other seeds. On the other 

 hand, many seeds must not be planted too early; 

 prominent in this class is the nasturtium, a seed that 

 long retains its vitality when kept dry, but will not 

 germinate in cold soil, hence the necessity of late 

 sowing. To make success sure the requirements of 

 each species should be studied. 



Many seeds germinate quickly when sown, but 

 the plants make a feeble growth, and the gardener 

 cannot understand why he has such weak plants, 

 when others of the same kind are strong, and that 

 in soil not so rich in plant food. This comes from 

 the manner in which the seeds are sown. It is a 

 common practice in seed sowing to make the drills 

 without first preparing the soil finely, the seed is 

 then sown among the small lumps, and covered as 

 lightly as possible, \vhen it should first be made fine 

 and then covered with fine soil, which should be 

 pressed firmly around the seed. This principle has 

 been well known and practiced for many centuries. 

 One of the first elaborate works on farming, "Our 

 Country Farm," published in France, 1616, says: 

 "When the seed is sown let the earth be made very 

 fine and press it hard over the seed with the feet." 

 There is a vital principle in this method not suffi- 

 ciently understood, but now generally practiced. 



There is stored up in every seed a latent germ, 

 the embryo of a new life, the development of which 

 is conditional upon other natural causes. The influ- 

 ences that act upon the seed to cause growth are heat, 

 air and moisture ; and without a proportionate quan- 

 tity of each there can be no plant life. Now, it follows 



