PLANTS FROM MINUTE SEEDS 61 



The soil should be of such character that it will not bake. Woods earth, 

 composed largely of leaf-mold and sand, does very well. It should be 

 partially dried and carefully sifted through a fine sieve. A flower saucer 

 is the best vessel in which to sow such seeds. Fill it with the sifted soil 

 till even with the margin, then jar the saucer to settle the soil, and with 

 a smooth block press it until the surface is as smooth and level as a 

 planed board. Now press rows, with the edge of the block, just deep 

 enough to be distinguishable, and in these rows scatter the little seeds 

 evenly but thinly. To do this take a sheet of smooth note paper, turn 

 up the edges, and crease one end slightly to make a run for the seeds, 

 then shake the paper along the row so that the seeds will be distributed 

 as desired. After sowing, place the saucer in another saucer of larger 

 size, and pour warm water into the outer saucer. The pores will soon 

 admit the water to the soil. When moist enough raise the inner saucer 

 until it stands out of the water, or empty the outer saucer. Water by 

 this means, keeping the soil merely moist not wet. Cover with thick 

 dark paper till the seeds start, then remove the paper and cover with 

 glass, raised a half-inch or more above the edge of the saucer, so that 

 air may be admitted around the margin of the saucer. Never cover such 

 small seeds. Be very careful not to keep the soil too moist, and equally 

 careful not to let it dry out. This caution with reference to watering 

 should be observed until the plants are quite large. Darkness promotes 

 germination, but is injurious to plants. Be careful, therefore, to uncover 

 the seed vessel, and admit light as soon as the seeds germinate. As the 

 seeds are always in full view when the cover is off, you can readily tell 

 when germination is effected. Admit light gradually to the young plantlets, 

 and never allow the direct rays of the sun upon them. As soon as large 

 enough prick them out into larger vessels, where they will not be crowded. 

 A small-bladed penknife can be used for that purpose," 



Distributing Fine Seeds. Another way to sow evenly very fine 

 seeds, such as calceolarias, tuberous-rooted begonias, fern-spores or in fact 

 any very fine seed, take a piece of white pasteboard the size of the box, 

 pot or pan in which you are going to sow your seeds, rub the seeds over 

 the cardboard until they are evenly distributed, then invert on the soil, 

 and by tapping gently, the seeds will fall as evenly as they were rubbed on 

 the cardboard. 



AIDS TO GERMINATION. 



Various chemical substances have been advocated as aids to the germi- 

 nation of seeds, but none, to our knowledge, have demonstrated any 

 efficiency and none are used by most successful propagators who rely upon 

 proper application of moisture and heat, through the medium of a soil 

 possessing the characteristics noted above. 



