INTRODUCTION. 
ground for too long, it will so far have devoured itself and con- 
sumed its own albumen, as to have no vigour left for germination, 
when the moment at last arrives. This principle is true of all 
seeds, though those of different families differ widely in longevity ; 
Primula, for instance, being specially short-lived, if not given 
a chance of springing promptly from mother-earth. 
Shallow pots or pans are best for sowing, and it is important 
to pick out only such as, in the burning, have achieved just the 
right point of porosity. These can be told from the fact that 
their outside is smooth and fine to the finger, this indicating 
that they have a proper susceptibility to moisture, instead of 
forcing too rapid evaporation and consequent dust-dryness of 
soil no matter how well watered, as do those pots that have been 
baked to a crust in the kiln, and consequently are coarse, rough, 
and crust-like to the touch, dry and hollow-sounding, too, to the 
tap, as an ancient bone in the desert. The chosen pans should 
have a generous layer of drainage, and must then be filled with 
finely mixed fine soil, pressed firm and even about half an inch 
below the rim. It is very important that this soil should first 
of all be thoroughly sterilised by heat, so as to kill out all germ 
life that would otherwise develop into slime and weeds and 
fungus. The seed should then be sown sparingly over the surface, 
and covered with a very thin sifting of still finer soil, except in 
the case of especially small seeds, such as those of Saxifraga, 
which should be sprinkled over the pressed level of the compost, 
and not covered at all. Such odd things are sometimes done ~ 
that these instructions are not unnecessary. I have known of 
whole-hearted enthusiasts who sowed their seed at the bottom of 
two feet of soil, and then sat waiting piously for years in the hope 
of seeing itcome up. The sown seed may perhaps then be surfaced 
with a peppering of coarse grit, and then should be kept both 
close and dark, with brown paper laid over the top of the pot, 
and glass put over that again to keep a uniform moist atmosphere. 
The full pots should never be watered overhead, but stood in 
saucers containing water, and, on first sowing, be thoroughly 
soaked, by being left for some hours in a bucket, just so full of 
lx 
