HOW TO SOW SEEDS 37 



sulky cultivator (Fig. 39) or other wheel tool. 

 A good adjustable sled -marker is outlined in 

 Fig. 40. 



SOWING AND PLANTING. 



SOWING THE SEED. The sled -markers open a 

 furrow of sufficient depth for the planting of 

 most seeds. If marker furrows are not available, 

 a furrow may be opened with a hoe for such deep- 

 planted seeds as peas and sweet -peas, or by a 

 trowel or end of a rake -stale for smaller seeds. 

 Plant when the ground is moist, if possible, and 

 preferably just before a rain, if the soil is of 

 such character that it will not bake. For shal- 

 low-planted seeds, firm the earth above them by 

 walking over the row or by patting it down with 

 a hoe. Care should be exercised not to sow very 

 small and slow -germinating seeds, as celery, car- 

 rot, onion, in poorly prepared soil or in land 

 which bakes. With such seeds it is well to sow 

 seeds of radish or turnip, for these germinate 

 quickly and break the crust, and also mark the 

 row so that tillage may be begun before the 

 regular -crop seeds are up. 



Land may be prevented from baking over the 

 seeds by scattering a very thin layer of fine 

 litter, as chaff, or of sifted moss or mold, over 

 the row. A board is sometimes laid on the row 

 to retain the moisture, but it must be lifted 

 gradually just as soon as the plants begin to 



