(',40 THE FARMERS' HANDBOOK. 



The site chosen for the seed-beds should be in a position sheltered from 

 prevailing winds, and the soil should be a well-drained, rich, sandy loam. 

 First mark off beds 4 feet wide; then pile a quantity of timber and brush- 

 wood on the surface, and start a fire on the leeward side, the intention 

 being t<> raise sufficient heat to kill insect eggs and seeds of any weeds that 

 may be present. Rubbish of any size should be raked off, but the fine ashes 

 should be left, as these will act as a fertiliser when worked into the bed. 

 Then the surface should be broken to a depth of 5 or 6 inches, and worked 

 up to as tine a tilth as possible. The bed should be enclosed with a frame- 

 work of wood. If squared timber is not available, straight logs about 6 to 9 

 inches in diameter will answer the purpose. 



To Ensure Even Sowing. 



To ensure even sowing, one level teaspoonful of seed is sufficient for a 

 bed 1 feet wide and 25 feet long, and should yield enough plants for one 

 acre. 



Do not attempt to sow the seed without addition to its bulk, but get two 

 buckets, one of which should be about one-third filled with fine ashes. Place 

 a thin layer of ashes in the empty bucket, and sprinkle as evenly as possible 

 a pinch of seed over it ; add another layer of ashes, and mix well. Repeat 

 the process until the quantity of seed it is desired to sow is used up, together 

 with the ashes Give it a good mixing again with the hands. The early 

 morning will probably be found the best. time to sow the seed, before the 

 wind becomes troublesome. It is inadvisable to sow with a strong wind 

 prevailing, if it can possibly be avoided, as the seed is so light that it will 

 be blown away. The mixture of ashes and seed should be distributed over 

 the bed as evenly as possible, and the colour will be a guide as to its even- 

 ness. The seed should not be raked in, but after sowing the bed should 

 be gently firmed all over with a piece of fiat board. Then lightly water the 

 bed several times with a can that has a fine rose. Do not put on so much 

 at one time that it will run in small streams, but moisten the bed thoroughly. 



Raising th3 Plants. 



It will now be necessary to cover the beds for protection against cold, 

 the sun, and insects. A simple plan is as follows : — At each end of a bed 

 drive one small post, leaving it about 12 inches above the ground level, and 

 strain a length of No. 10 wire from one to another, so that it runs down 

 the middle of the bed ; place a few small posts along the bed to take up any 

 sag. Attach to the wire white hessian or cheese-cloth. This may be stitched 

 to the wire tightly with binder twine or string with the aid of a packing 

 needle. The covering should be stretched tight and fastened to the sides 

 by hooking over nails. 



As it is advisable to have plenty of plants at the right stage when 

 required, provision should be made for 50 per cent, more beds than are 

 apparently necessary. One hundred square feet of bed is sufficient for an 

 acre, but the bed will require to be pulled over a period of a few weeks, and 

 the grower should not miss an opportunity of getting out as many plants 

 as possible at one time when the weather conditions are favourable. Then, 

 too, the danger from loss of plants by destruction by insects and other 

 causes must not be overlooked. Over a number of years, the grower will 

 find the average of 50 per cent, extra will amply repay him. 



