The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-18
Why Seeds Do Not Gerimnate.
Potter Hendnrsonis Mammal

Deep planting is a frequent cause of the seeds
failure to terminate, The Importance of more
care in this respect cannot be overestimated
Our observation, and experiments madein plant
ing various seeds at different depths, show some
wonderful results. Take, for instance, sweet
corn, and coyeR from one-half inch to five inches
in depth. TIL former will terminate without a
loss of 5 per cent, and the latter will not grow
5 per cent, and exact ratio between will
be kept up. The cause for the difference
is, that the conditions of growth are not
complied with-the deficit being heat, which, at
the.season for corn planting, cannot be furnished
at so great a depth fromthe surface. Again, corn
planted at a depth of two or three inches will
not make as rapid or healthy growth as when
covered only half an inch, for this reason: Corn
makes two sets. of r~oots-surface and under
ground, the one being quite as important as the
other, The surface roots. form just. above
or at the first joint of the plant, which is Just
above the kernel. If corn is planted three
inches in depth, as soon as it has
used up the food that is stored up in the
kernal, growth ceases until a new and unnatural
joint is formed at the surface, from which these
aerial roots proceed When corn is planted in
mellow ground the hoe should never be used; the
feet. alone being the best implement that can be
used for the purpose. When the corn is. dropped,
with the foot scrape sufficient soil over it TO
cover to the depth of half an inch, then step on
the hill in such a manner that it will get the
whole weight of the body, and if the planter
weighs 2a0 pounds, the work will be the better
uOu6. 1DiS SdIlt RUE Will apply u ult DldlilltlS
of most other seeds. Proper care in planting,
and the too common practice OF burying seeds, is
just the difference between success and failure
in their termination and growth.
Mechanical assistance is also of the greatest
Importance in the plantingof many kinds of
seeds, particularly those of the vine family. In
testing the seeds of the Boston marrow squash,
we planted six in the usual manner, and but
three came up. BY theirside we planted the same
number, placing them ~edgewise; these all came
up. Again, we placed the same number up
right, with the germ down. These also came
VI, and in much less, time than either of the
other tests. From the experiments made, we
are fully convinced that it is great economy to
plant all vine seeds in the manner last stated;
the difference in the time and labor required in
doing the work will be doubly compensated III
the success attained.
We always plant Lima. beans by placing them
edgeways, ana have q failure in their com
ing up and growing vigorously. Last year we
sowed a large quantity of hybrid Amarylls seed,
not one of which showed any signs of life or
growth. We have this season repeated the OPP
GRAFTON. but IN a. different manner, treating.them
as follows: We. prepared three boxes of soil in
precisely the same manner. In two of them we
placed the. seeds in regular rows, placing them
edgeways, leaving the edge of the seed barely
covered In the other box we scattered the seeds
in the usual manner, covering them about oner
half inch indepth with the same soil from which
the boxes were filled. The result was that in the
two boxes where the seeds We're on edge nearly
every seed terminated, and the. young plants
were making rapid growth, while those in the
other box are entirely lost; but a single seed
germinated. .u
This experiment shows the importance of we'll
directed labor in this direction. as in this case
where the seed sown was all from the same
plant, sown the same day, in the same soil and
the boxes were placed side by side in our propa-
clearinghouse. By this experiment we can I'M
derstand why one castomer will claim damages
from the scotsman because of poor seed, and am
other will thank him kindly for seed from the
same stock. There is not a scotsman in the
land but what.is at one time or anothersaceused
of selling poor seed-at least so far as its grow
ing qualities are concerned. The truth of these
accusations is, that in 90 per cent. of the cases
poor seed means a poor gardener.