CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



the purity of seed must be kept if the investiga- 

 tion is to be of any permanent value. 



Seeds should be sown while as fresh as pos- 

 sible and for security should be thoroughly 

 tested before planting. Several methods are 

 recommended. One is to place them in water, 

 those that sink being supposed to be good, while 

 the bad ones remain on the top. This is not a 

 conclusive test, as some seeds contain a great 

 deal of oil and will float. A safe test is to cut 

 a few of the seeds in pieces and examine the 

 germinating organ, which appears white and 

 plump if the seed is in good condition. 



When the seeds are not adulterated they may 

 be of such variable vitality as not to be desirable, 

 especially for children, who expect that every 

 seed put into the ground will do its duty and 

 " come up." The proportion of seeds that is 

 likely to grow can be readily determined with 

 very little expenditure of effort. 



Secure two germinating pans; two pieces of 

 cotton flannel for each pan; glass for covering 

 germinating pans ; small paper labels and record- 

 blank; and seeds to be tested. 



" Count out one hundred of each of the dif- 

 ferent kinds of seeds selected for the garden- 

 squashes, lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets, corn, 

 beans, spinach and flower-seed. Wet the cloths, 

 allowing them to get thoroughly soaked, and 



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