CHAPTER TWELVE 
HOW TO GROW PLANTS FROM SEEDS 
The sturdy seedling with arched body comes 
Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs. 
ROBERT FROST 
WHEN a live séed is planted under proper condi- 
tions, it germinates. The tiny plant within it breaks out 
of the seed coat, thrusts its roots out into the soil, and 
pushes its stem and leaves up toward the light and 
air. 
To awaken the young plant in the seed to active growth 
certain conditions must be supplied. And the time 
when the little plant is leaving its old home in the seed 
and establishing itself under new conditions is the 
most critical period of its whole life. To get his crops 
properly started, therefore, the gardener must under- 
stand when and how to plant his seed and how to care 
for the seedlings during their early life. 
What seeds need for germination. When seeds are 
planted, they lie with the soil particles all about them. 
Everything they obtain comes through the soil, and if 
they are to germinate and grow, the soil must be in 
condition to supply their needs. 
First water soaks into the seed and gives the living 
cells of the embryo the moisture required for growth. 
Water also softens and weakens the seed. coat, which 
permits the growing embryo to break out more easily. 
Without water, seeds will not germinate, for, as we know, 
dry seeds may be kept for years. And if the supply 
of moisture fails after germination is started, the little 
plant dies. When the embryo has once begun growth, it 
is not able to stop and become dormant again as it was 
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