SOWING SEED IN SITU, ID EST, AT STAKE. 59 



search of moisture, and the lateral rootlets can spread like- 

 wise. They (the latter) will not reach the outer walls of the 

 pit for six months, and will then be strong enough to force 

 their way through. 



Now sow the seed ; put in, say, two or three, as the seed 

 is good or bad, six inches apart. Push them into the soft 

 soil one inch, and put up the stake in the centre to mark 

 the spot. 



Keep the place clean till following rains, but allow only 

 hand-weeding near the young seedlings, and occasionally open 

 the soil with some light-hand instrument as ' a koorpee ' to 

 the depth of half an inch. 



If all the seeds germinate, and the seedlings escape 

 crickets, and all live, at commencement of the rains leave the 

 best and transplant the others to any vacant spot. You will 

 succeed with some, not with others ; but do not be too anxious 

 to take up the spare ones with earth round the roots, and thus 

 endanger the one plant left. That the seedling left be not 

 injured is the great point, the others must take their chance. 



Some people believe in two, or even three seedlings to- 

 gether, and would thus advise them to be all, or perhaps two, 

 left. I do not approve of the plan, except, perhaps, with 

 Chinese plants. Plant as close as you will in the lines, but 

 give each plant its own home. 



There is another mode of planting at stake, which is, I 

 think, better than the above. 



Lay the seed in alternate layers of seed and mould in 

 beds. The seeds may be laid close to each other, but not 

 above each other, with mould, say two inches thick, above, 

 and then seed again. When they begin to burst, ready to 

 shoot out their roots, examine the seeds, by taking off the soil 

 from each layer, every three or four days. Take out those 

 that have burst, and plant with the eye or root side of the seed 

 downwards. Put all that have not burst back again. Repeat 



