PROPAGATION 131 



little drills across the bed about 6 inches 

 apart. These should not be made with a 

 hoe or similar tool, but get a piece of straight 

 stick about i^ inch wide, and, laying it 

 on the ground, press it gently down till it 

 leaves an even and smooth hollow about an 

 inch deep. This will give a good firm bed 

 for the seeds. Therein sow the seeds as 

 evenly and thinly as possible, and cover 

 sparingly with some good light soil put 

 through a y^-inch riddle. In many cases 

 the merest sprinkling will suffice, for seeds 

 should only be covered to a depth about 

 equal to their diameter. 



Nothing more need be done except to 

 keep down weeds and see that the beds do 

 not get too dry ; but watering will have 

 to be done very carefully and with a very 

 fine rose, otherwise the ground will become 

 baked and hard. Watering should be limited 

 as much as possible, and, in order to pre- 

 vent undue evaporation, the beds should be 

 protected from hot sun. It is a good 

 plan to put a little cocoanut fibre between 

 the drills, which will help to keep the 



