GERMINATION OF SEEDS 253 



keep moist and warm. When the grains have sprouted 

 examine carefully and discard all ears whose six grains do 

 not all show vigorous germination. The test may be 

 made by putting moist sand or soil in a dinner plate, 

 dividing it into sections and planting the grains in these. . 

 Turn another plate over the top to keep in the moisture. 

 Encourage the children to make a germination test for the 

 corn which is to be planted at home. 



, Home and Vacation Experiments 



1. Plant two hills six inches deep, two four inches, two 

 two inches. Give all the same sort of cultivation and note 

 results. 



2. Dig up a few plants that have been growing one 

 week. Examine the grain to see if any changes are shown. 

 Repeat with other plants at the end of two weeks' growth, 

 and again after three and four weeks. Compare condi- 

 tions. What has become of all the food material that was 

 in the grain? 



3. Cultivate one row of corn deep, and close to the 

 hill; another shallow, early in the season, and deeper 

 later in the season. This makes a good soil mulch 

 which keeps the moisture in the ground. Cultivation 

 also destroys weeds, and loosens the soil so the air may 

 reach the roots. 



4. Secure three or four varieties of corn and distribute 

 different kinds to different pupils to plant half a dozen or 

 more hills; cultivate well and compare yields. 



5. Plant seeds obtained from stalk bearing two ears 

 and see if you can produce many stalks with two ears. 



