70 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENING 



jMoist soil packed closely against seeds planted in the 

 garden causes them to sprout more rapidly. After planting 

 fine garden seeds, the row should be packed by tramjiing upon 

 it or in some other manner. Fine seed such as timothy or 

 other grass seed, when sown in the field, is often rolled so that 

 the moisture from below will irise and come in close contact 

 with the seeds and soften their coats. 



5. Air- and Germination. — In two cans of garden soil, plant 

 seeds alike. Have one moistened, favorable for the best germination, 

 and the other supplied with enough water to stand over the top of 

 the soil. Keep both cans in a warm room and observe the results. 

 The seeds in the first can should sprout in a, few days. Those which 

 are over-watered will probably rot instead of sprouting. 



This exercise may be varied by placing wet blotters or wet 

 cloths with a few seeds in the bottom of a bottle or glass jar. In a 

 similar vessel, put a like number of seeds and cover them with an 

 inch or two of water. Those in the moist condition will have enough 

 air to germinate, while those in the water will not. 



Air is very essential to the proper germination of seeds 

 and future growth of the plants. " If too much water is present, 

 the air is driven out and the seeds or plants will not grow 

 well. The exercises demonstraite the importance of good 

 drainage of soils. 



6. Warmth and Germination. — Plant seeds in two cans of soil, 

 similar in every way, but keep one of them in a warm room and the 

 other in a colder room or perhaps out-of-doors. Xote the difference 

 in time required for germination. The temperature of each may be 

 noted if a thermometer is available. 



Certain kinds of seed require very warm soil before ger- 

 minating. Others will not need it so warm. Soils may be 

 warmed by suitable tillage for a few weeks before planting 

 time. This will let in the warm spring air and make the 

 soils warm enough for the germination of garden seeds. 



7. Depth and Germination. — In a glass jar or in a box some- 

 what deeper, plant such seeds as corn, beans, and peas, at varying 

 depths of one, two, three, four, and five inches. Two of each kind 



