SEEDS, HINTS ON SOWING. 457 SEEDS, MODE OF SOWING. 



which proceed from the end of the long 

 stalks or branches on which the leaves, 

 slightly notched, grow in whorls of three, 

 are pink in colour, but in the great 

 majority the flowers of plants belonging 

 to this genus are white and sometimes, 

 but very rarely, blue. Any of the sedums 

 will grow luxuriantly in pots or any com- 

 mon garden bed, and do well, as already 

 said, on rockwork, in the open border, 

 or on walls, especially those of ruins fast 

 going to decay. The best known are 

 S. Sieboldiy already mentioned, vS". acre, 

 commonly known as Wall Pepper, and 



SEDUM ACRE FOR ROCK-WORK. 



S. spectabile> of two of which illustrations 

 are given. 



Seeds, Hints on Sowing. 



There are two points in connection with 

 seed sowing which are of paramount im- 

 portance to the success and vigour of 

 germination and the regularity, strength, 

 and luxuriance of the crop, besides that of 

 having good and perfect seed. These are, 

 the proper mechanical condition of the 

 soil, and the regular and uniform depth 

 at which the seed is sown. The presence 

 of air, moisture, and a certain degree of 

 warmth, is essential to the germination of 

 seeds. In the absence of these agents the 



process of germination will not go on. 

 The soil is the medium by means of which 

 a supply of air, moisture, and warmth is 

 kept up ; but, unless the soil be in a 

 proper condition, it cannot supply these. 

 If it be very dry, it contains too much air 

 and too little moisture. The proper 

 condition of the soil is when it is neither 

 very dry nor very wet ; it is then moist, 

 but not wet ; it has the appearance of 

 having been watered, and is easily 

 crumbled to pieces in the hand, with 

 its particles adhering together. (See also 

 Germination, ) 



Seeds, Mode of Sowing. 



In the majority of instances the follow- 

 ing treatment is recommended as the best 

 in such situations where soil, locality, and 

 other causes require care ; otherwise, in 

 favoured sheltered positions, the plants 

 may succeed with more hardy treatment. 

 Small seeds should be only lightly covered 

 with soil, and if unusually dry weather 

 prevail, a light surface protection with 

 moss or similar material is beneficial till 

 the seeds have well germinated. The scale 

 of humidity and temperature adapted to 

 the germination of seeds and rearing of 

 young plants is regulated by the tempera- 

 ture plants are capable of bearing in their 

 mature growth. The hardier the species, 

 the lower the average temperature required 

 for germination, and vice versd, allowing 

 for the artificial stimulus naturally required 

 for establishing young plants in their 

 primary stages of growth. The absence 

 of surface or bottom heat may in some 

 measure be compensated by early ventila- 

 lation, if required ; and, where compatible, 

 closing up pits or houses with a high degree 

 of sun heat and artificial moisture. As a 

 uniformly modified degree of moisture in 

 the soil is indispensable to the successful 

 germination of seeds, it is important that 

 the seed stores or pots should never remain 



