SOWING SEEDS INDOORS 



First, we must have a box with some holes in the 

 bottom to let off any water that may not be needed. 

 I think a starch box, or one about that size, is the 

 best. Now we will copy Mother Nature and try to 

 make the ground in the box just as she has it out of 

 doors. You know down deep she nearly always has 

 sand and gravel or rocks so the extra water can seep 

 away ; so we will put some gravel or lumps of char- 

 coal or coal cinders (whichever you can find) in the 

 bottom of the box, and this we call drainage. Don't 

 be afraid to put in quite a little, one inch at least. 



As we have a chance to make our ground just as 

 we want it, we will make it rich and mellow so our 

 plants can make a good strong growth. 



First, let me tell those who live where there is 

 clay soil what to do. Take some soil from the 

 garden, and if it is frozen it will have to be chopped 

 out and brought into the house to thaw. You will 

 need one-third as much as your seed boxes will hold, 

 which, of course, will not be very much. Now take 

 as much humus as soil and as much sand as soil, and 

 mix and mix and mix them all together. If it is 

 fine and free from lumps it is ready for the seed 

 box, if not, use a sieve and shake the soil through 

 it. I think you will have better success if you 



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