Planting Seed in the Open Ground 



erabty higher than one would pay for the same 

 seed of the local store or seedsman. 



Where one has sufficient old seed of different 

 kinds it is a good idea to test them out during 

 the late days of winter and so ascertain their fit- 

 ness for use. The testing is a simple matter, 

 warmth and moisture being all that is required. 

 A long tray covered with an inch of sand kept 

 moist may be marked off in squares and the seed 

 it is desired to test scattered evenly over the sur- 

 face, labehng or numbering each square, then a 

 thick piece of flannel should be wet in warm water 

 and placed snugly over all and the tray put 

 in a warm place — back of the furnace, over a 

 radiator or on the back of the kitchen reservoir 

 if a fire is kept there all the time, until the seeds 

 germinate; it will then be seen what proportion 

 germinate and how freely one will need to sow 

 in order to obtain a good stand of plants. If the 

 supply of seed is large a germination test of 

 seventy-five per cent, will justify its use but if 

 there is only a Hmited supply it will be better to 



41 



