2 



never exceed 6 feet. In the beginning, four beds, 4 by 12 feet in size, 

 should suffice, although the number may be increased or i educed to 

 meet local needs. Paths 18 inches to 2 feet wide should separate the 

 beds. 



(2) The ground for the seed beds should be plowed or spaded 

 thoroughly before seed is planted in the fall or early spring. All 

 roots, sticks, stones, etc., should be removed. 



(3) To insure drainage the beds should be raised from 2 to 3 inches 

 above the bottom of the paths. The soil should be well pulverized 

 and the surface should be smooth and moist when the seed is planted. 



SEED SOWING. 



(1) The seed may be sown either in shallow drills or broadcast. 

 Sowing in drills is usually best, since the seedlings can be cultivated 

 more easily. 



(2) The drills should be 6 inches apart, and should run across the 

 beds. They may be made by dragging a sharpened stick along one 

 side of a 6-inch board. A still more rapid method is to nail triangular 

 strips the desired distance apart on the underside of a board, and to 

 mark the drills by pressing the board down on the bed. 



(3) Unless the soil is free from weeds, broadcast sowing is not advis- 

 able. Some species, however, do remarkably well when sown broad- 

 cast, and it would be well to plant a few square feet of some of the 

 beds experimentally in this manner. 



(4) Sowing should ordinarily be done in the spring, about the time 

 early garden seed would be planted. The exact time will depend upon 

 the location and the season. If done too early, while the ground is 

 still cold and wet, germination will be slow and many of the seeds 

 will rot. 



(5) Seed should be very carefully covered, for if not enough cover 

 is given them they may wash out, and if too much, thej^ may either 

 rot or lie over until another season. A safe rule is to cover small seeds 

 to a depth of about twice or three times their diameter. The usual 

 tendency is to plant too deep. Firming the beds with a board will 

 prevent the soil from washing when sprinkled. 



(6) Immediately after planting it is an excellent practice to cover 

 the beds with a very thin mulch of clean leaves, moss, or needles. This 

 keeps the surface moist and hastens germination. Water in limited 

 quantities should be applied even to mulched beds. The mulch should 

 be thin and light enough to allow the seedlings to break through the 

 surface. If too heavy it should be removed when the seedlings begin 

 to come up. 



