The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-19
Why Seeds Fail to Grow.

There are many reasons why seeds fail to
grow, says the American Agriculturist.
One great cause of failure is immature
seed. The great aim of the seed-grower is
quantity; to get the most from the plant,
rather than the best. The first fruits are
often permitted to ripen seeds for seed pur-
poses, which should never be, as the first
settings and ripenings are usually imper-
feet. The same is true of the last of the
plants production they are weak in vi
tality, and the seeds produced will have a
tendency to perpetuate that weakness. 1t is
of the utmost Importance that seeds should
have attained perfect maturity, and should
have been carefully and healthily pre-
served. Immature seed may. it is true, pos
sess the power of termination, but it always
retains disposition to disease and weak
ness. Weakness perpetuates weakness, and
unshapely forms and poor qualities are
transmitted. Good cultivation, under ia
vorable circumstances, will, in a great
measure, restore vitality, but il is ques-
ton of time, accompanied by degree of
uncertainty, that the farmer and gardener
cannot afford, as there is a liability OF fail
ulc, VI pdI VI CiOp LULU bulS
cause; the responsibility, in great measure,
rests upon the seed-grower.
Seeds, saved with the utmost care from
carefully selected stocks, may lose their vi
tally If they are not properly preserved.
All seeds of vegetables OF flowers should be
kept perfectly dry, cool and in an airy stu
alton; they ought to be carefully protected
from dampness, and should be kept in a
room that is not alternately moist or dry.
An even temperature and humidity is essen.
tial to the seeds vitality.
Carelessness in planting is one of the
principal causes of failure. The soil should
be carefully prepared before the seeds are
sown; it should be worked deep. and made
fine, and, when the seed is sown, the soil
should be firmly pressed about them. This
has been practiced by the systematic
horticulturists for centuries, and for this
purpose the garden or farm roller was en-
ployed, as much to break up the lumpy soil
as for any other object. The spade was
used for packing the soil firmly about the
seed: The modern plan, ''the use of the
feet in seed sowing" is one of the most
effective, practical and convenient methods,
as the feet are always with the gardener
and ready for use when required. a fact that
admits of no excuse if the work is neglect
ed. The influences that act upon the seed
to cause growth are heat, air and moisture,
and without a proportionate amount of
each there can be no plant life. Now, it fol-
lows that when a seed is put into the
ground, and loosely covered with light, dry
soil, it does not come in contact with suf-
ficient moisture to soften its coating 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 When we place
a seed into the earth it commences growth
in two opposite directions, upward into the
atmosphere and downward into the earth.
The first root the seed puts forth does not
furnish the young plant with food for its
development; it simply holds the plant in
place until the true roots, by which the
plant is fed, are formed, after which it be-
comes part of the plant itself. The cotyle-
dous. or seed leaves contain the food of the
infant plant until its true leaves and roots
are formed. If the soil is not firmly
pressed around the main root, these feeders
will have nothing to feed upon; they must
come in immediate contact with moisture,
or the warm, dry air will destroy them, and
the whole plant will stand still until new
roots are formed. or. in the meantime.
perish. Herein lies the benefit of firmly
pressing the soil around the seed when
planting.