SEED-SOWING 51 



It is obvious that if the seeds are not to be covered 

 with too much soil, the beds upon which they are 

 sown must be carefully prepared, and the particles 

 of soil must be rendered sufficiently fine by passing 

 through a sieve. In addition to this, the seed-bed 

 must be made firm by pressing down with a piece of 

 board, or even by treading down with the feet, after- 

 wards finishing off the surface as level as possible 

 by passing a straight-edged board over it, and even by 

 patting it down gently with the flat side. The seeds 

 are thus prevented from sinking too deeply into the 

 soil, and when they germinate the seed-leaves soon 

 reach the light and air from which they draw their 

 food and energy. 



Whether the seeds are to be sown in tiny furrows, 

 called " drills/' or scattered more or less evenly over 

 the surface " broadcast," depends upon circumstances. 

 As a rule such root crops as Carrots and Turnips are 

 sown in " drills," while Radishes may be sown in 

 drills, or broadcast, or even in patches between other 

 crops. The different ways in which the various seeds 

 are to be sown are mentioned under each particular 

 crop. 



In " intensive " cultivation it is essential to sow 

 seeds evenly and thinly as a rule, to save trouble 

 later on, although it is generally permissible to sow 

 much thicker than in the open ground. 



THINNING OUT. With crops like Carrots, Turnips, 

 and Radishes that are grown for their " roots," it is 

 detrimental to lift the seedlings and transplant them 

 to another place. All the roots would be spoiled by 

 doing so ; they would become " fanged " or " forked," 

 instead of being symmetrically shaped, owing chiefly 



