FIG. 37.
To show that seeds need air for germination. The beans in both bottles were soaked 24 hours, and then were put into dry bottles Bottle A contained sufficient air to start the few seeds. Bottle B had not enough. The water in the tumbler C did not contain sufficient air for germination. See experiment, [page 72].[ToList]
FIG. 38.
To show that seeds need air for germination. Corn planted in puddled clay in tumbler A could not get sufficent air for sprouting. The moist sand in tumbler B admitted sufficient air for germination.[ToList]
Experiment.—Fill some tumblers or teacups or tin cans with wet sand and others with clay that has been wet and then thoroughly stirred till it is about the consistency of cake batter or fresh mixed mortar. Take a tumbler of the wet sand and one of the wet clay and plant two or three kernels of corn in each, pressing the kernels down one-half or three-quarters of an inch below the surface; cover the seeds and carefully smooth the surface. In other tumblers plant peas, beans, and other seeds. Cover the tumblers with saucers, or pieces of glass or board to keep the soil from drying. Watch them for several days. If the clay tends to dry and crack, moisten it, fill the cracks and smooth the surface. The seeds in the sand will sprout but those in the clay will not (see [Fig. 38]). Why is this? Water fills the small spaces between the particles of clay and shuts out the fresh air which is necessary for the sprouting of the seeds.
This teaches us that when we plant seeds we must so prepare the soil, and so plant the seeds that they will get enough fresh air to enable them to sprout, or, in other words, the soil must be well ventilated.
Experiment.—Plant seeds of corn and beans in each of two tumblers; set one out of doors in a cold place and keep the other in a warm place in the house. The seeds kept in the house will sprout quickly but those outside in the cold will not sprout at all. This shows us that seeds will not sprout without heat.
If the weather is warm place one of the tumblers in a refrigerator.
Why don't we plant corn in December?
Why not plant melons in January?