lo June. 191 l] 



Seeds and Seeding. 



407 



eating what (]uantities to sow, but the experienced seeder knows that the 

 points referred to above will govern the quantity to be sown. The examples 

 given in the following table will indicate the results that would be obtained 

 from the sowings usually recommended. They are from a number of ex- 

 periments conducted by the writer several years ago. The seeds were 

 obtained in the ordinary way from a firm of seedsmen and sown in the 

 open garden. A light mulch of short horse manure was provided in each 

 case, and the ground kept continually moist during the process of germi- 

 nation. 



Seed. 



Beet 



Turnip. 



Parsnip 



Kadish 



Results 



Far too thick 



Very much too thick 



Much too thick 



Patchy ; litUe thin- 

 ning 

 Little thinning 

 Very little thinning 



Verv much too thick 



Much too thick 

 Verv much too thick 

 Faiilv thick 



Patchy ; little thick 



Far too thick 



Very much too thick 

 Much too thick 

 l/ittle too thick 

 Much too thick 

 Fairly thick 

 Verv mudi too thick 

 Rather thick 

 Too thick 



Much too thick 



Little too thick 



It will be 'i,iien that the quantities were generally much in excess of 

 the actual number of plants required. However, it cannot be claimed that 

 these experiments were in any way conclusive. They indicate, however, 

 that with seed of average quality under genial conditions lighter seedings 

 can be adopted. I have found in experiments conducted at other seasons, 

 under adver.se conditions, that even the heaviest sowings recommended were 

 not unduly excessive, while the light -sowings were a failure. It may be 

 added here, that when conditions are so unfavourable to the germination 

 of the seed they are usually unsatisfactory also to the future growth of 

 the crop. Turnijis sown at the rate of i oz. to 200 feet were patchy, owing 

 to defective germination and attack of flea l)eetle. The sowing of parsnips 

 at 1 oz. to 200 feet was much Um thin, owing to poor germination due to 

 defective conditions, chiefly 1(X) great a variation in temperature. Beet 

 .sown at I oz. to 100 feet, was thin and patchy, owing to defective seed 

 and to the lack of continuous supply of moisture. 



