74 



Commercial Gardening 



greater percentage of plants from two-year-old seed than from one-year- 

 old, which would rather indicate that they require a further period to 

 mature properly after being taken from the fruit and cleansed. 



Seed Sowing". Seeds are sown in the open air either "broadcast" 

 or in " drills ", and under glass in pots, pans, or boxes of varying sizes. 

 In the latter case the gardener mixes his compost beforehand, and drains 

 his seed pans or pots more or less carefully and elaborately according to 

 the class of seeds he intends to sow. Special pains are taken with minute 

 seeds such as those of Begonias, Gloxinias, Rhododendrons, &c., and with 

 the spores of Ferns. The gritty surface soil is rendered very fine by pass- 

 ing through sieves of small mesh, and when pressed down firmly makes 

 a fairly solid rooting medium for the plantlets, and also prevents the seeds 

 from dropping down too far from the light. In the case of Orchids, which 

 are now raised from seeds in thousands, the dust-like seeds are sown on 

 the surface of the mossy or fibrous compost in which the parent plant is 

 growing, the little plants being transferred to thimble-like pots when large 

 enough for the purpose. 



In the open air, market gardeners and farmers prepare their soil also 

 in accordance with the nature of the seeds. For small seeds the ground, 

 after being ploughed or dug, is well harrowed or raked, and rolled if 

 necessary to secure sufficient firmness. When large quantities of seed are 

 being sown it is more economical and quicker to use a drilling machine. 

 The seeds are put in a box, and drop through a slot at regular intervals 

 in the drills that are made as the machine is drawn or pulled over the 

 surface. The depth of the drills and the distance apart are regulated 

 beforehand. Generally speaking, however, seeds are sown far too thickly, 

 and in the case of such crops as Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, Beet, Mangels, 

 Peas, and Beans about 95 per cent of the seedlings have to be destroyed 

 to make room for the others to grow. The waste is not so great with crops 

 that are to be transplanted, as every plant almost may be utilized. 



When large areas are to be sown broadcast a sowing fiddle (fig. 61) 



