Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-04-25
Why seeds Fail 70 Grou.

There is stored up in every perfect seed a
latent germ, the embryo of new life, the de-
velopment of which is conditional upon other
natural causes. The influences that act upon
the seed to cause growth are heat, air and
moisture, and without proportionate guam
tity Of each there can be no plant life. Now
it follows that when a seed is put into the
ground and loosely covered with light, dry
soil, it does not come in contact with sufi-
cient moisture to moisten the seed, neither is
there sufficient heat, because of the too great
circulation of air around the seed, to produce
the chemical changes upon which vegetable
growth depends.
Again, when We place a seed in the earth Il
Immediately commences growth in two oppo.
site directions-upward into the atmosphere
and downward into the earth, the two sources
from which it obtains its food. 1t is a mis-
take to suppose that the first root the seed
puts forth furnishes the young plant with
food. 1t does not; it simply holds the plant
IN place until the true roots, by which the
plant is fed, are formed. The first or seed
leaves contain the food of the infant plant
until its true leaves and roots are formed, and
do not perform the functions of the plants
true leaves
The feeding roots of any plant or tree are
delicate white fbres, so small as rarely to be
seen by the naked eye, and they are never
seen by the casual observer. Now, when these
roots are formed, if the soil is not pressed
firmly around the main root these feeders
have nothing to live upon they must come
in immediate contact with moisture. or the
warm, dry air will destroy them, and the en-
tire plant will stand still until new roots are
formed, or, in the meantime, perish. Herein
lies the benefit Of using the feet in seed SOW
ing. In thinning out plants when the seed
has been sown too thickly, the feet should al
ways be used, in order to press the soil firmly
about the remaining plants
Deep planting is another frequent cause of
the seeds failure to terminate. The impor-
lance OF more care in this direction cannot be
oyer-estimated. Our observations and exper-
iments, made in planting various seeds at diff
erent depths, show some wonderful results
Take, for instance, sweet corn, and cover from
one-halt inch to five inches in depth; the
former will terminate without a loss of FIVE
per cent, and the latter will not grow five per
cent, and exact ratio between will be kept up.
The cause OF the difference is that the condi-
tions OF growth are not complied with in the
latter case, the deficit being heat, which, at
the season for corn planting, cannot be fur
nished at so great depth from the 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 roots.
surface and underground, 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 il
has used up the food that is stored up in the
kernel growth ceases until a new and unnatu-
raj joint is formed at the surface, from which
these aerial roots proceed
When corn il plantad in nallovp cyro,p5 A. n
hoe should never be used, the feet alone be-
ing the best implement that can be used for
the purpose. When the corn is dropped.
with the foot scrape sufficient soil over Il 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 250 pounds the work will be
the better done. This same rule will apply
TO the planting of most other seeds Proper
care in planting, and the too common prac-
tiee OF burying seeds, is just the difference
between success and failure in their germina-
ton and growth.
Mechanical assistance is also of the great
est Importance in the planting of many kinds
Of seeds, particularly those of the vine fami-
ly. In testing the seeds of the Boston Mar
row squash, we planted six in the usual man
ner and but three came up; by their side we
planted the same number, placing them edge
ways-these all came up; again we placed
the same number upright, with the germ
down-these also came up, and in much less
time than in either OF the other tests From
the experiments made We sre fully convinced
that it is great economy 20 plant all vine seeds
in the manner last described. The difference
in the time and labor required in doing the
work will be doubly compensated in the sue