Growing Flowers 179 



letting it stand just long enough for the moisture 

 to penetrate all parts of the soil. The water 

 should^ not cover the flat, or box, or the seed will 

 be washed away in a flood. 



Do not sow seed too thickly. The majority of seeds 

 will germinate if purchased from a reliable seed 

 house, and to sow a great many more than is 

 desired to germinate will be a fearful waste. A 

 few in excess of the seedlings desired should be 

 sown in case some do not germinate, but when 

 young plants come up too thick, they will only 

 have to be thinned out and thrown away. 



Egg shells make excellent little cups for planting 

 seeds which are not to be sown out of doors. When 

 the seeds germinate and the seedlings have grown 

 two or three leaves, eggshell and plant should be 

 set where the plant is to remain. This prevents 

 the roots being disturbed and growth checked and 

 the shells furnish food to the soil for the plant a 

 little later. 



Seeds of most plants are ready to be gathered when 

 the seedpods burst. The seed should be placed in 

 the sunlight for a day or two, or in some dry place 

 indoors, preferably behind glass through which the 



