GERMINATION 



29 



moonflower, canna and wild cucumber is often done. The 

 object is to let water in to the cotyledons. Lotus seeds 

 not kept in water from time of ripening have also to be 

 treated thus ; but if kept immersed as in nature, they will 

 sprout readily under favorable conditions. 



49. Stratification is a modification of nature's method 

 of handling hard-shelled seeds. In cold climates the 

 seeds are broken open by frost ; in warm ones by the 

 moisture usually abundant during the so-called winter 



FIG. 23— DIBBLES, THEIR USE AND ABUSE 



a, flat'bladed, wide style; b, homemade "punch" dibbles; c, pot-plungine 

 dibble; d, root-graft planting dibble; e, trowel style; f, dibble made 

 from spade handle. A, right way to use dibble, when pressing soil from bottom 

 of hole to top. B, wrong way — pressing soil from top and leaving air space 

 around roots. 



or rainy season. Stratification consists in fully exposing 

 the seeds to the action of the weather. The common 

 practice is to place the seeds in shallow boxes in thin 

 layers alternated with layers of sand or sifted soil. These 

 boxes, covered with galvanized hardware cloth (one-half 

 inch mesh) to keep out squirrels, mice and other crea- 

 tures, are then placed flat on the ground out of doors so 

 they will be moistened by rain and snow and will freeze 

 and thaw as frequently as possible. The same method 



