CHE REFERENCE LIBRARY - Pole Shift Survival Information

PROPAG.4TlON BY MEANS OF SEEDS AND SPORES 21
conditions of moisture and temperature can be maintained.
Seeds sown 011 a moist surface a.nd covered with a glass
present an interesting study. They may have difficulty in
getting a foothold, and they present peculiar reactions to
light.
It is well knvwn, on t.he other hand, that some seeds will
not germinate, or will at lea*st appear unevenly, if subjected
to sunlight. At least some of the delphiniums, papavers and
adonises germinate very imperfectly, ii” at a.11, in direct light.
It is always advisable to keep germinating seeds in shade or
partial darkness, especially a.s there is nothing to be gained by
exposing them. Of course, the soil itself is sufiicient protection
if the seeds are covered.
Xegemr ination
It is a common statement that seeds can never revive if
allowed to become thoroughly dry after they have begun to
sprout. This is an error. Wheat, oats, buckwheat, maize,
pea, onion, ~%sh and other seeds have been tested in this
regard, and they are found to reger;cir\ate readily, even if
allowed to become thoroughly dry and brittle a&r cprouting
is well progressed. They will even regerminate several
times.
Kheat, peas and other seeds have been carried through as
ma.ny as seven germinations after the radicle had grown a half
inch or more and the seeds had been sufficiently dried in each
trial to render them fit for grinding.
Delayed germinationn~‘ A
We noted in Chapter I that most seeds have a natural period
of dorma,ncy. This period may be considerably shortened or
lengthened in many cases by the treatment to which the seeds
are sub jetted.