Raising Stock by Propagation 



however, to say that drills should never be less than six 

 inches apart, and the minimum could with advantage be 

 increased to one foot. The danger lies in leaving them in 

 these drills too long, and thereby causing overcrowding. 

 Now the thinner the seed is sown, and the wider apart 

 are the drills, the greater the length of time which they 

 may be left there before transplanting. Consequently, 

 having gained greater strength, they can bear the check 

 of transplanting without injury. 



A few words may be added as to seed sowing under 

 glass. Here the warmth to be obtained outside is not 

 considered sufficient, or a sufficiently fine tilth cannot be 

 obtained. We require under glass the same conditions 

 for germination, but there is this advantage, that another 

 condition can be enforced which could not be obtained 

 outside keeping the surroundings close. Seed under glass 

 is sown in boxes, pans, or pots. In either case the details 

 are the same. Allow plenty of drainage by the use of 

 clean crocks. Over the crocks put some moss or leaves 

 to prevent the fine soil from filtering down among, and 

 blocking up, the drainage. Almost any fine soil will do, 

 but for preference get loam, leaf-soil, and sand, in equal 

 proportions, and pass through a half- or a quarter-inch 

 sieve, according to the size of the seed. This should be 

 pressed down firmly, especially around the sides of the pot, 

 pan, or box. It should be in a moist state at the time, or 

 be watered the day before the seed is sown ; sprinkle the 

 seed over the top, and then some soil on these, just 

 sufficient to cover them. Press the soil again very slightly, 

 cover with a sheet of glass, put paper over this, and stand 

 in a house or frame having the needful temperature. In 

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