CHAPTER XXXIII 



ON SEEDS AND SEED SOWING 



The stories of mummy wheat that are still told to credulous 

 tourists are ridiculed by expert seed growers. 



THE conditions necessary to the germination of seeds are 

 moisture, warmth, and air. Generally the less direct 

 air the better ; the requisite amount of moisture and 

 the degree of warmth naturally vary largely according 

 to the nature of the seeds. More skill is required to 

 ensure successful germination of seeds under glass than 

 out of doors. As a rule it may be said that the sower 

 has less influence over the latter, although he can attend 

 to such matters as giving shade and moisture. But 

 seeds sown in the greenhouse or frame are completely 

 under the grower's control, and are wholly dependent 

 on his Qare. It need scarcely be said that neglect in 

 the treatment of seeds and seedlings brings about far 

 greater losses than in the case of grown plants. 



Let us first consider the sowing of seeds outdoors. 

 The size of the seeds is the first consideration, for one is 

 advised to sow them at, roughly, a depth that is equal 

 to three times their diameter. The practical teaching of 

 this is that while large seeds e.g. those of Peas, Beans, 



246 



