46 HORTICULTURE LECT. in 



cannot force its way through. Large seeds such 

 as peas and beans are frequently sown too near the 

 surface, where the moisture is insufficient for their 

 germination, as they need more than the small kinds. 



As a rule small seeds, such as cabbage, turnips, and 

 others of a similar size, may be covered about half an 

 inch deep. Onion, carrot, parsnip, and radish seeds 

 about an inch, spinach and beet nearly two inches, 

 peas three inches, and beans four inches ; but all are 

 better sown deeper in summer, when the ground is 

 dry, than in early spring when it is moist. 



Seeds should be sown at a uniform depth in well 

 pulverized soil, then the growth of the plants will be 

 free and even ; not at different depths in cloddy soil 

 or the growth will be stubborn and. irregular. It is 

 best to sow thinly in drills, or if the plants come up 

 thickly they should be thinned quickly. Overcrowd- 

 ing in a young state is ruinous. 



The first growth of nearly all plants above ground, 

 except bulbs (example onions) and cereals (wheat or 

 grain plants) is in the form of two flattened lobes 

 (seed-leaves). These may be thought of as the milk 

 bottles of infant plants, and if not large and well 

 filled the growth must be weak. They cannot be large 

 and strong if they crush against each other. They 

 should never touch. This is a small matter of great 

 importance that Bought not to be overlooked. Too 

 thick sowing and too late thinning spoils many crops. 



Cuttings. It has been said that plants raised 

 from seed are new or distinct individualities ; those 

 raised from cuttings are not, but merely an ex- 

 tension of the parents, possessing precisely the same 

 habits and having exactly the same cultural needs. 



When cuttings are taken from greenhouse and 

 window plants in full growth in summer, as most of 

 them should be, before flower buds form, then inserted 



