The Portland daily press., 1880-11-29
AGRICULTURAL.
Fertilization Of Seeds.

NOAoAAA1HoASA ~ oOONAS'
Seeds of plants are commonly storehoases
OF such matter as the enclosed germs re-
qure for their sustenance before sufficient
power is developed to supply the needed
nourishment from the soil. AS general
thing the seed ball contains large percen-
tage of starch, certain amount of nitroge-
neous matter and some mineral substances;
in fact, it NAV be said to contain everything
necessary to the development of plant life.
Through additions to the seed of larger sup
plies of plant food, especially of such as are
Immediately available, lis fertility is proper
tionately increased. This fact is more clear
iy understood when it is known that what
we have generally termed a seed is in reality
package of fertilizing matter.
Fertility of seeds may be increased through
soaki e them in solution of plant food.
This practice has prevailed among the Chi
nese for thousands of years. Wnen matters
Of fertilizing nature are held in solution
they are Immediately available as food for
plants and may be of great service to the
young plant, even before the material in the
iced pail is ready for assimilation. Fertility
is added to seeds soaked in solutions of nj
rate of soda, nitrate of ammonia or phos
phate of lime. However, through improper
nanageme t many persons destroy the plant
,erm in the Irocess of soaking the seed
When the seed is soaked until the germ
commences its development, then is removed
aud suffered to dry before the planting de-
struction of the germ will in all probability
ensue. Hundreds of pounds of beet seed are
annually destroyed through such careless
measures.
Seed which has been soaked should be
sown when the ground is moist, or just be-
fore shower of rain; then the hull will
continae to soften until the enclosed seeds
burst their shells. Otherwise if soaked seed
be sowp when the ground is dry then the
latter will withdra the moisture from the
seed, resulting in a hardening of the husk
which surrounds the seed. Especially is
Ibis the result in the case of beet seeds
which are less benefited by fertilizing solu-
ions than those OF many other varieties of
,lants, simply because the liquid food fails
70 reach the seed centres. The seed of corn
nd the cereals in general receive great ben
siI from soaking in approved solutions. For
many years it has been the practice to soak
seed wheat. frequently in liquid excrements
me of the best of liquid fertilizers During
he process of soaking it is true but small
Quantity OF fertilizing matter enters the
.'ores OF the outer Shell of the seed, yet APP
1lied at the right time it proves wonderful
aelp and stimulant to growth.
Concerning the fertilization of seed corn,
he best solution we have ever found in our
IdCllCc 10 ClllOlluC VI ilIuc anu COpp6FdS.
During an ext erence of twelve years in he
ise of the solution, its effect upon the seed
has been very satisfactory, besides acting as
preventive against the pulling up of seeds
)y crows. The most approved plan of use is
irst to dissolve the copperas, next adding
he chloride of lime, which changes the col
II of the solution to a brownish yellow. The
;orn should not be removed from the sou-
ion except as needed for planting, since
termination is thereby accelerated. Duling
he past season, from May 20 to the middle
# July the solution was ia common use,
md in no case was the corn longer than a
week in coming up, while in someinstances
he termination was noticeable i'll few
lays. Corn thus treated gives very dark
reen to its foliage when it first starts up,
ind never has a yellow, sickly hue at any
'tage of growth. When the corn has been
eft in this solution for several days, it has
'een observed to terminate therein. end ON
me or two occasions the sprouts grew so
png as to form a tangled mass difficult of
separation.
In the seeds of many plants the store of
bod is Incorporated with the germ, as in
'eas, beans and squashes, having the food
n the substance of the embryo, and forming
ne body with it. In such specimens the
DOTS push out from the germ, and the seed
forced up out OF the ground, having its
caves carefully folded within Soaking
cas- greatly facilitates their termination.
Plaster of Paris is frequently applied to
Wheat after the seed has been in solution,
nus facilitating the operation in scattering
he seed. Barley and oats are likewise
baked i'll a similar manner to wheat, and
experience also shows the desirability of
oaking the seeds of turnips and onions.
Che practice adopted by some farmers of
nmersing corn in tar water retards germin-
,tion, since by adheIing to the seed the tar
enders it impervious to water, thert by de-
aging the swelling and bursting of the little
acs which contain the plant food. Those
arIners who will practice the fertilization
4 seeds i'll an intelligent manner, carefully
deserving cause and effect, will develop
many curious and useful results, besides
;ddng to the present limited stock Of knowl-
sIge on very important subject.-Ameri-
AN cultivator.