276 STUDIES IN GARDENING 



larger amount of silver sand and scarcely if at all 

 covered. If the seed is carefully mixed with the sand, 

 the sower will be able to tell by the distribution of 

 the sand upon the surface of the soil whether the seed 

 is evenly sown. Seedlings that are too thick are 

 hampered in growth from their very birth, and may 

 have to be pricked out before they are ready for that 

 process. Very fine seed should never be sown in a 

 draughty place, as the wind may blow it all about. 

 More failures in the raising of seedlings come from 

 excessive or irregular watering than from any other 

 cause; and plants that are difficult to raise must be 

 watered with great care and delicacy. But we are 

 now dealing with ordinary perennials, and the gar- 

 dener who is raising these will easily be able to see 

 whether the soil is too dry or too much sodden with 

 wet. He should water them carefully every day, and 

 before the seed is sown he should see that the soil is 

 thoroughly and evenly moist down to the bottom of 

 the box. To ensure this it is best to water the soil 

 before it is put into the box. In the case of strong 

 growing and rich feeding plants it is a good plan to 

 cover the bottom of the box with a layer of manure. 

 The seedlings will root down into this and can be 

 transplanted with their roots still fastened to it. But 

 the box must be fairly deep when manure is used, so 

 that the seedlings may not reach it while still very 

 young, and the manure must be very well rotted. 

 Manure from an old hotbed is the best to use. The 

 seedlings must be pricked out as soon as they begin 



