HOME AND SCHOOL EXERCISES 69 



2. How Plants Get Out of the Ground. — Start a number of 

 large seeds of different kinds, sueli as beans, peas, corn and squash. 

 They may be planted very shallow in a box of wet sand. As they 

 start germination, remove the sand from a few of each kind and 

 study their plans of growth. Continue this study as the growth 

 continues. Which seeds are pushed entirely out of the ground before 

 the seed leaves burst from the coats? Which ones leave the main 

 part of the seed in the ground? What do these send up? Compare 

 carefully the diflference between peas and beans; between corn ana 

 squash. 



During the exercise, much difference will be noticed in the 

 strength of sprouting shown by different kinds of seeds. Gar- 

 deners often plant strong sprouting seeds among weak ones 

 to aid in breaking the soil for them. This is one reason for 

 planting radish and lettuce seeds together. The roots of some 

 plants are forced downward into the soil by penetrating the 

 soil without pushing the seed leaves and seed coats upward. 

 Such plants have less difficulty in sprouting from poorly 

 prepared seed beds. 



PLANT GKOV^XH AND POLLINATION 



3. Moisture and Germination. — In a can of moist garden soil, 

 plant fifteen kernels of corn or other large seed. In a second can, 

 with the same kind of soil which is air dry, plant the same number 

 of seeds in like manner. Keep both cans in a, warm room and keep 

 the moist one well watered. After a few days, sprouting will be seen 

 from the moist soil, but probably none from the dry soil. 



There are three essential conditions for germination : mois- 

 ture, warmth, and air. This exercise proves the need of 

 moisture. 



4. Packing and Germination. — Fill two cans alike with the 

 sams kind of moist garden soil. In each plant the same number of 

 kernels or seeds. Leave one soil very loose at the top and around 

 the sides. Pack the other with the Angers or bottom of a bottle 

 so the moist soil is pressed firmly against the seeds. Place both 

 cans in a warm room, and after a few days carefully watch and 

 liote the difference in the time required for germination. Usually, 

 packing hastens germination. 



