SECT. T. OF PROPAGATION* 63 



being light, and the work finished by a gentle 



watering. 



The smaller seeds, as carrots, &c. may be 

 pared for sowing, by simply mixing them in a little 

 moist sand, or fine earth, taking care that they do 

 not lie longer than the usual time of their beginning 

 to sprout : but this practice need only be adopted 

 for seeds that are long in coming up, and then there 

 is some advantage in having them to sow in a state 

 ready to strike immediately, on fresh dug earth. 



The season for committing seeds to the ground, 

 should be as early as the nature of the plant to be 

 cultivated will bear; for the forward productions 

 (which come without forcing) are the best as to size, 

 flavour, and fruitfulness, if they meet with no mate- 

 rial check from weather. It is the proper ambition 

 of gardeners also, to have some of thejirst of each 

 kind of vegetables and fruits, and thus to vie with 

 others. 



Let this direction for early sowing be understood. 

 not only of spring, but autumn crops ; that the 

 plants designed for winter use, or to stand for spring, 

 may be strong, and well established in the ground : 

 Though for those designed for spring, it is advisable 

 to have two or three diiferent sowings ; for lettuces 

 (as an instance) that are forward, will sometimes fail 

 when backward plants shall do well. 



To be sure of a crop, and in some things a suc- 

 cession of crops, various sowings should be made 

 through the year, at all times that are not too un- 

 natural ; for it is an object in gardening, not only to 

 have early and late productions, but never to be with- 

 out what may be produced. Every sowing that is 

 made (the early ones in particular) should be noticed 

 in time, whether it is likely to succeed, that the' work 

 may be repeated. But a little caution is necessary, 

 that this business be not over done ; for though there 



