eep, the next thing
to consider is this--how deep should a seed be planted?

"The depth depends upon the size of the seed. Take such small seed as
poppy, parsley, even lettuce, and these may be just sprinkled on the
surface of the ground. Then tread them in with the foot or place a board
over them and walk on the board. In this way the small seed are pressed
into the soil quite sufficiently.

"For seeds in general the following might answer for a rule: There are
seeds like corn, oats, wheat and the grasses which come up unhampered by
their seed leaves. Such seed may be planted deeply--say ten times the
thickness of the seed. Other seed like beans, squash, radish, etc., push
and carry their seed leaves up through the soil with them. So these,
because of this extra work, should be planted nearer the surface. Four
or five times the thickness of the seed is a safe rule to follow.

"When the seed becomes entirely or nearly saturated with water then
germination begins. Sometimes people soak their corn in tepid water
before planting. This hastens germination. But on the other hand if the
soil is very wet and cold the soaked seeds may rot in so much moisture.
Certain seeds have very thick coverings. Canna, date and nut seeds are
examples. Their cases are so hard and absorb moisture so slowly that
germination is a long process. To hasten this little holes may be
drilled in the case, thus giving the plant germ a chance to get out.
Nurserymen crack the nuts in order to help matters along. You can
readily see what a really difficult piece of work it is for a tiny
embryo or baby plant to break open a thick case.

"If seeds are planted too deeply again, a tremendous piece of work is
imposed upon the little plant. To push up through, say one inch of soil,
would be quite a task for a lettuce seedling.

"Finally in seed planting, the soil must be safely compacted or pressed
about the seed. The object of this is to bring in contact with all parts
of the seed soil particles with their films of water. Suppose a radish
seed is planted and no soil happens to come in direct contact with the
seed. That distance, so slight to us, is a well-nigh impossible one for
the rootlets to extend to.

"There is a possibility of course, of too close compacting. This occurs
when the soil is very wet. Do not compact at all then. In fact, such
soil condition represents a very bad time for planting, anyway. Moisture
is necessary for germination, but supe