— 3- 



plants it. Just what part he shall take depends on the 

 plant which he is dealing with, for different families of 

 plants are propagated in different ways although some 

 grow readily no matter what method is employed. Some 

 plants, as mint, are more easily grown by division than 

 by seeds. Some plants, the horseradish, sugar cane, etc., 

 rarely produce seed, consequently new plants must be 

 grown by dividing the parent plants. 



PEOPAGATIOX BY SEEDS. 



Something of the method of growing plants from 

 seed has been suggested in a previous lesson but there is 

 so much to be thought of and so many things to be re- 

 membered in this operation that lies at the bottom of 

 much of our plant culture that we cannot go over it too 

 often. 



First of all, care must be taken that the seeds select- 

 ed are the best possible for the purpose. Seed from infe- 

 rior, sickly parent plants will never produce first class 

 plants. Again seeds may fail to grow because they are 

 too old. Some seeds remain in good growing condition 

 for many years, as for instance cucumber seeds which 

 after perhaps ten years of waiting to be planted will pro- 

 duce plants when put into the soil. Starchy seeds, such 

 as rice or wheat, will continue in germinating condition 

 longer than oily seeds like those of the sun-flower. Other 

 seeds may have been gathered too young or before they 

 had matured. Such seeds do not contain as much of a 

 food supply for the embryo as is in a fully grown seed. 

 However seeds not quite mature usually germinate sooner 

 than ripened ones probably because the seed coat is not 

 so hard. Or the seeds may have been damp when gath- 

 ered and put away. In this condition they are in danger 

 of moulding in warm, or freezing in cold weather. In- 

 sects or disease may have injured them. 



