138 ROCK GARDENS 



cold frame, for although its action is slower, 

 better and stronger seedlings are thereby 

 obtained. Some people also recommend 

 soaking the seeds for a short time in warm 

 water before sowing. This treatment rather 

 tends to hasten germination, as it softens the 

 outer covering of the seed, which with some is 

 so very hard that it would take, in the ordinary 

 course, a long time before it becomes affected 

 by the moisture of the soil. 



There is a right and a wrong way of doing 

 most things, and, although it may be thought 

 difficult to make a mistake in sowing seed, it 

 is by no means as simple a process as many 

 people imagine. 



With the seeds at hand, choose out the 

 requisite number of pots of 5 or 6 inches, 

 according to the amount to be sown, a separate 

 pot for each kind. Into these put the drainage 

 of broken crocks, filling to about a quarter the 

 depth of the pot, and over this put a layer of 

 moss to prevent the soil getting into and 

 choking up the drainage. 



Next prepare the compost, which will of 

 course vary according to what is to be sown. 



