The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-01-12
Home Course In
Modern Agriculture
l. How a Seed Starts to Grow
By c. v. GREGORY.
LsrfcuIfaraf Divf+fcn. Ios1a State COLLEGE
COPYRIGHT. 1905. by American Press Association

them for several days you win find
that they win not germinate, no mat
ter how warm they are kept, because
they cannot get air. The reason is that
without both air and warmth the en-
zymes cannot prepare the food for the
plant, and if it cannot get food of
course 1t cannot grow.
After the plant has started to grow
the seed coat is no longer of any use
to 1t. In some plants, such as corn,
the little plant finds its way out very
easily. The little pumpkin plant, with
its heavy coat. has harder time. In
deed, were it not. for a little contrfv
ance with which nature has provided
it It could not get out at all. This is a
tiny hook on the lower end of the
seed. This hook catches on the end of
the seed coat and peels it back as
neatly as you take off your coat.
Watch for this in terminating pump
kin or squash seed and see If you can
not notice it. In some seeds, like hick-
DRY nuts, the plant is unable to get out
until the seed coat is cracked by the
frost or in some other way.
We have seen that a seed cannot
start to grow unless it has moisture,
warmth and air. 1t not only needs
these, but it needs them in the proper
proportions In a light, sandy soil
moisture is often lacking, and the
seed is slow in terminating for this
reason. In such a soil growth will
start more quickly If the soil is pack
ed tightly around the seed. The seed
will soak up moisture more rapidly If
the particles of soil are in close con-
tact with it on all sides. Packing
down the soil in the row with the
fiat side of a hoe or with board or
with the broad, fat planter wheels in
the field helps the seed to absorb
moisture and so hastens termination.
In heavy, sticky clay soil there is
usually plenty of moisture, but air is
often lacking. If such a soil is pack
ed down too tightly over the seed the
particles are forced so closely together
that very little air can get through
and hence termination is delayed. IN
a soil of this kind seeds should never
be planted very deeply.
The most important factor of all is
warmth A cold soil may have
moisture and air in exactly the right
amounts, and still the seed will not
start to develop. Even if it does be-
gin to grow progress viii be SLOW and
the plant will have a weak, unhealthy
look 1t is of the utmost Importance
to wait until the seed bed is warm
before planting the seed. Many seeds
which would rot or produce only
spindling stalks if planted in cold
soil will grow into strong plants if
planting is delayed until the soil has
become warm. Any seed viii make a
stronger. better preducing plant if it
has a warm seed bed to start from.
The rapicity with which soil will
warm up In the spring depends great
deal upon the nature of the soil itself
A sandy soil warns up quickly be-
cause the air can get down into it
easily, thus warming it all the way
through at once. Another reaeon for
the higher temperature Of sandy soil
is its greater dryness. AS long as wa
ter is evaporating rapidly the ground
will be cold. The process of evapora-
ton requires a great deal Of heat.