PROPAGATION 53 



carefully thinned out or regulated, retaining the stronger ones and 

 discarding the \ve:iker. Large seeds are in many cases affected in 

 their germination by the position in which they are sown, although 

 this is a matter not often taken into account by cultivators. 

 MR. FETCH, the Ceylon Government Mycologist, has found that 

 deformity in seedlings of Para-rubber is chiefly due to faulty 

 position of the seed in germination, the shoot or plumule in 

 consequence becoming entangled with the stalk of the seed-leaves 

 (cotyledons). Out of 50 seeds which were sown horizontally with 

 the inner or Hatter surface downwards (which is considered the 

 proper position), 48 germinated normally, while from a similar 

 number sown vertically with the micrcpyle uppermost, only 9 

 normal plants were obtained. In the case of Coconuts it is 

 customary to sow the nuts on their side, with the stalk end 

 slightly raised. 



Basket or Bamboo-plants. For most trees or shrubs, an 

 excellent plan is to sow the seed in plant-baskets or bamboo pots ; 

 in some cases two or three seeds may be sown together, the weaker 

 seedlings being afterwards removed, leaving only one in each basket 

 or bamboo. This method of raising plants not only facilitates 

 transport, but also enables the plants, with their roots in the soil 

 intact, being planted out in almost any weather with comparative 

 safety. In the case of Rubber, Tea, etc., the advantage of basket- 

 plants over stumps or seedlings from nursery-beds is obvious, and is 

 usually well worth the extra cost entailed. Where baskets are not 

 obtainable, sections of bamboo will answer the purpose, but these, 

 unlike the plant-baskets, must be removed from the plants when 

 the latter are being planted out. This is easily accomplished thus: 

 split the bamboo along two sides with a blow from a knife, lay the 

 plant on its side and invert the two halves of bamboo ; this enables 

 the latter to be easily removed when the plant is fixed in position 

 and the soil is filled in around it. 



Germination of Seeds. The seed may be divided into 

 three parts, viz., the germ, the body, and the skin. The germ or 

 life principle is the embryo, consisting of the miniature plant with 

 the leaves and stem in an undeveloped state. The body or 

 endosperm is the reserve food which nourishes the embryo in 

 germination until the root is advanced enough to derive nutriment 

 from the soil. The skin or shell of the seed is for the purpose of 

 protection. The four conditions essential to successful germination 

 are : (1) a certain amount of moisture, (2) a favourable degree of 

 heat, (3) a continuous supply of fresh air, and (4) protection from 



