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SOWING. 381 SPARAXIS. 
SourHERNwoop.—See Arremt-| more than a single seed. In the 
BIA. ease of large seeds, and of all the 
Sow1ne.—The operation of com- | commoner kinds, the use of the sau- 
nitting seeds to the soil in flower-| cer for preparing the ground, and 
gardening, is commonly done in! of the empty flower-pot as a protec- 
patches; but sometimes flowers are | tion, may be dispensed with. 
sown broadcast or in drills, and oc-| In sowing broadcast, the bed or 
oly singly. When annuals | space to be covered being stirred up 
re to be grown in borders contain- | with the spade and raked fine on 
the surface, should be gently smooth- 
ing a miscellaneous assemblage of 
flowers, they are commonly sown | ed with the back of the spade and 
the seeds afterwards strewed over 
in small circular patches, in inter- 
vals left on purpose among the per- | It, so as to lie, if the seed be good, 
at an inch or two apart; or less, if 
ennials, or among the Roses and 
other low shrubs. Each paich is} the plants are to be thinned out or 
prepared by digging up a spadeful | transplanted. The seeds may then 
of the soil and returning it to its| be covered by strewing over them 
place with the surface downwards ;| some fine mould; and this may be 
then breaking it finely, and levelling | ‘‘ firmed,” as the gardeners term it, 
by gently beating the ground flat 
and smoothing the surface; and 
lastly, depressing or slightly hollow- | with the spade. For ordinary seeds, 
raking the surface smooth before 
ing out a circle from three to six 
inches in diameter, and from a quar- | sowing, and after sowing again 
raking it, will be found sufficient ; 
ter to a half an inch in depth, ac- 
cording to the size of the seeds to be | and the raking should always be 
sown. As most seeds germinate light in proportion to the smallness 
best when gently pressed into the | of the seeds. In sowing grass-seeds 
soil, a very good mode for amateurs| to form a lawn, the ground should 
is to take the saucer of a flower-pot | be beaten equally firm throughout, 
of the diameter of the patch, and | to prevent it from sinking unequally 
gently press down the soil; and| afterwards; and after it has been 
then to strew a few seeds on the | rendered perfectly smooth and even, 
level surface thus formed. Half-a- | the seeds should be sown quite thick, 
dozen seeds will be sufficient, of |and raked in so gently, that the 
even the smallest-growing plants, | teeth of the rake may not penetrate 
if the seeds are good. The next | more than half an inch into the 
operation is to sprinkle a little fine | soil. . 
soil over the seeds, so as to cover | Sowing in drills, or little furrows 
them to about the same depth as | drawn by the hoe, is chiefly required 
the seed is thick. After this, the | for edgings; and, as the plants 
saucer should be again applied so | suited to this purpose are small, and 
as to press down the soil and the’ also the seeds, great care ought to be 
seeds together; and if there be any| taken to distribute them equally, 
danger apprehended from birds or|and not to cover them with too 
drought, an empty flower-pot should | much earth. 
be turned over the patch till the| Sraniso Broom.—Spartium jun- 
plants come up. The larger seeds | cewum.—See Spa/rtium. 
of flowers, such as Lupines, Sweet Spara’xis. — Iridee. — Beautiful 
Peas, &c., may be sown three or| bulbous plants, that will flower vig- 
fo ar in a patch ; and some kinds of | orously if grown in a well-drained 
Lupines, such as L. Cruickshankii| bed in the open air. For the mode 
and ZL. mutabilis, will not require | of iting the bed, see I’x1a. 
