Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-04-19

DEPTH OF PLANTING SEEDs.-If we seek
to ascertain the proper depth at which seeds
should be planted, we must examine the con-
ditions which are most favorable to germina-
ton. These are proper degree of warmth
and moisture, darkness and presence of air.
In the absence of these conditions, seeds either
remain sound and never develop into plants or
they decay and perish. Some are very deli
cate in their organization, and are speedily de-
stroyed, unless every circumstance is tayora-
BILE to their preservation and growth. Others
possessed Of very great vitality, and guarded
by an impervious coat readily put forth shoot,
or rest secure in the earth till aroused to life
by the proper stimulants, air, heat and mois-
ture Indeed the seeds of the same species,
according to their degree of maturity exhibit
very different degrees of vigor and endurance
The most favorable depth for planting seeds
must depend not only on the species, but on
the kind of soil Many again may come up
from considerable depth, but these will pro
duce feeble plants from the slender connection
which exists between the roots and the seed
leaves at the top of the STEM
The heat of the sun in our climate is never
too great for the swelling seeds. Excessive
moisture is as fatal to the life of many, as a
proper degree is necessary to their swelling:
air being another necessity, we can only look
for due combination of the whole near the
surface, a sufficient degree of darkness being
secured by very thin coating of earth These
principles are derived from experience Some
seeds remain buried in the soil for centuries,
and only spring up when raised within the in
fluence OF heat and air.
Soils that are very open and porous will not
only allow of the growth of seeds at greater
depths than those that are tenacious, deeper
planting is required in them. Very small
seeds can derive sufficient moisture from the
soil, if ii is in the right condition, when cover
ed very lightly, and they have not sufficient
strength to raise or break through heavy
coat of earth, so that they perish if buried
deeply, even if they terminate, even before
they reach the surface. A cery thin layer Of
sltted earth ; kept moist by bit of old carpet
spread on for day or two, will be most apt to
insure success. A slight patting down of the
earth to break its little Jumps, and compact it
about the seeds will be also found serviceable
Larger seeds which require more moisture to
swell them, and have more strength to break
the crust, must be planted deeper, but we
think that in most cases the nearer to the root
the seed leaves can come out, that is the short
er the stem between them the more vigorous
will be the plant.
We have seen numerous reports of expert
ments of grain and grass seeds sown at various
depths, and trial on wheat by French agri-
culturlst, shows that In that soil and climate
two inches gave the best produce, while at a
depth Of seven inches very few grains come
up, and probably at eight inches none would
have appeared. If we can deposit our seeds
at just the right depth, the saving in our grain
crops will be immense. Not onehalf of the
seeds sown come to perfection, for we find that
with more careful processes of drilling, and
with the still more careful process of dibbling
or hand planting, much less seed is required,
often less than half the usual quantity. Home
stead.