A SEED AND ITS GROWTH 



51 



thoroughly moisture is applied, the quicker will the seeds 

 germinate. Without moisture, as the dry seeds have shown 

 us, seeds will not sprout at all. 

 But an interesting experiment 

 will show how different amounts 

 of moisture affect seeds. Look- 

 ing forward to the work in the 

 garden, get some moist, coarse 

 sand, or else some very sandy 

 loam ; the object is to have ma- 

 terial which will not pack natu- 

 rally by its own weight. Put 

 some in the first tumbler, drop 

 in a couple of unsoaked beans, 

 and cover them lightly. Do the 

 same in the second tumbler, but 

 press the material firmly around 

 the seeds. Then cover the tum- 

 blers, to prevent drying out, 

 and wait. When you have 

 found which seeds sprout the 

 quickest, you will understand 

 why the gardener walks on the 

 line of seeds that he has just 

 planted, and why the farmer 

 drags a heavy roller over the . 



° J . Fig. 31. — A young plant of 



graSS that he has just SOWn. corn. c and m show the roots, o 



Then see if you can state all th . e . f*?-. an ? \ «?f extra T ° ots t 



J which this plant throws out at 



this clearly in your note-book, the surface, for strength. 



A second need of sprouting 

 seed is air. If we wish to try this as if in the garden, we 

 can put some seeds into sand or loam, and then others into 

 clay. Pack both of the tumblers tightly, and keep them 



