86 GARDEN AND FARM TOPICS. 



To such as have not the convenience of a hot-bed or 

 green-house, vegetable or flower seeds may be sown in 

 the shallow boxes above mentioned, and placed in the 

 window of a south or east room, where the thermometer 

 does not average less than 70. Success would be more 

 complete, however, if panes of glass were placed over 

 the seeds, resting on the edge of the box an inch or so 

 from the soil. This would prevent evaporation, and ren- 

 der watering less necessary, and hence less liability to 

 wash up the seeds. With very small seeds it is a good 

 plan to place a sheet of blotting-paper over the boxes 

 after the seeds are sown, and pour the water on the 

 blotting-paper until it soaks through sufficiently to 

 dampen ihe soil. 



