THE GARDEN AT HOME 



enables it to wait the essential conditions without loss 

 of vitality. But it is not always convenient for the 

 gardener to sow seed as soon as it is ripe, so he keeps it 

 for a few weeks or months, as the case may be, until it 

 suits him to sow. Most of us buy our seeds in the spring, 

 and sow then, for the simple reason that the awakening 

 sunshine and increasing warmth provide ideal condi- 

 tions for their germination. If we secured home-saved 

 seed and sowed it as soon as gathered, the difference 

 between the resulting plants might not be noticeable 

 in some cases, while in others it would. 



A few seeds have an especially hard outer covering. 

 Common examples are found in those of Canna or Indian 

 Shot, Palms, and Sweet Peas. The two former are some- 

 times particularly slow to germinate, and it is usual to 

 soak them in water for twenty-four hours, having the 

 water hot when the seeds are first put in. Sweet Peas 

 may be treated in the same way though, as a rule, they 

 do not need it. Some growers chip off a piece of the 

 hard covering, taking care not to damage the growing 

 point, which may easily be detected. Oily seeds, such, 

 for instance, as those of Chestnut, Walnut, and Oak, lose 

 their vitality most quickly, and should be sown as soon 

 as ripe. This advice also applies to seeds that are notori- 

 ously slow or difficult to germinate e.g. Daffodil, Auricula, 

 Primula, Gentian, and Phlox. Some seeds suffer much 

 more through being stored than others, and they are 

 found chiefly amongst hardy perennial plants, trees, and 



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