56 THE beginner's garden book 



that the bean has first to get its stem out of the ground, 

 and then to drag its heavy cotyledons after it. At the 

 depth of an inch or two this is not a hard task for so large a 

 seed as the bean, but to drag the cotyledons up for three 

 inches is pretty severe. On the other hand, it is easy for the 

 pea and corn, whose cotyledons stay below, to send up the 

 pointed plumule to the surface. But even these can be 

 planted too deep. The general plan is to plant a seed, out 

 of doors, not deeper than three or four times its own thick- 

 ness. When it is desired to get the roots deep down, as is 

 good for peas, the best way is to plant the seed in trenches, 

 and to fill these as the plants grow. For most other seed 

 the average depth, as just given, is enough. 



And we now understand what the seeds do in order to 

 become plants. 



Keview Questions 



1. Should stored seeds be allowed to get moist? Why? 



2. Name the two large parts of a bean. What are they for? 

 What is found between them ? 



3. How does a kernel of corn differ from a bean? In what way 

 is it the same ? 



4. Name the three needs of sprouting seeds. 



5. Is it possible to plant a seed too deep ? How do you prove 

 this ? Name the general depth for planting. 



