FIG. 42.
To show how the bean plant gets up. Notice the curved hypocotyls pulling the seed-leaves or cotyledon out of the soil.[ToList]
FIG. 43.
To show how the corn-plant gets out of the soil. A slender growing point pushes straight up through the soil, leaving the kernel behind.[ToList]
FIG. 44.
To show the use of the cotyledons. These are the plants shown in tumbler 2, Fig 42, forty-eight hours after removing the cotyledons from plant B. Plant B, although first up, has been handicapped by the loss of its cotyledons.[ToList]
Seeds of carrot, celery, parsley, parsnip and egg plant are weak and rather slow in germinating. It is customary to plant them rather thickly in order that by the united strength of many seeds they may more readily come to the surface. This point should be observed also in planting seeds in heavy ground that is liable to pack and crust over before the seeds germinate.
Seed should always be sown in freshly stirred soil and may be planted by hand or with a machine.