WATER IN SEED SOWING 127 



Therefore, as prescribed in an earlier chapter the hoe or cultivator 

 must be started as soon as the young plants can be seen, and in some 

 larger seeds where the firmed layer has been crusted by a shower 

 a light harrowing or raking may be desirable to release the -shoots 

 from the too compact covering which has come over them. 



Third: Soil opening. The converse of firming the soil about 

 the seed is drying of the surface soil when unexpectedly heavy 

 rains have come and the water does not percolate rapidly enough 

 to bring the surface layer into good condition for growth. In such 

 an event seed can often be saved from rotting by the light raking 

 or harrowing or cutting with a disc, to allow the air to assist drain- 

 age in relieving the surface layer of its excess. The wisdom of this 

 course is always conditioned upon the character of the soil. A 

 sticky soil would be more harmed than the seed would be helped 

 by it. 



Fourth : Mulching. The use of a light mulch of chaff or cor- 

 ral-scrapings or rotten straw or other fine, loose material is of value 

 in garden practice if it does not occasion too great cost or labor to 

 procure or prepare it. The larger the seed the thicker the layer 

 may safely be, and with the mulch, shallower planting, and prob- 

 ably quicker germination, is possible. The mulch lessens evapora- 

 tion from the surface and thus gives the seed a surer supply; it 

 also prevents puddling of the soil surface by pelting rain drops and 

 keeps the particles both moist and loose for the thrust of the shoot. 

 A mulch also makes it much safer to sprinkle the bed if rains delay. 

 In garden practice it can hardly be too highly commended. On 

 heavy soils sawdust or sand can be used for this purpose if they are 

 the most available materials. 



Fifth : Irrigation. Starting seeds by irrigation on soil that 

 has good capillarity and lateral percolation (or "seeps well" as 

 the common phrase is) releases one from several of the injunctions 

 just laid down. The covering should be shallow, as the moisture 

 will rise to the surface ; no firming needs to be done, for the water 

 will settle the soil, and when the moisture is ample, stopping the 

 supply will quickly allow the escape of the surplus. It may some- 

 times be desirable to use a light mulch to protect the surface from 

 baking and give the seedlings a few days' more growth before it is 

 necessary to stir the surface. Seed starting in this way with the 

 raised beds and permanent ditches and the ridge irrigation system, 

 all of which have been described in the chapter on irrigation, is 



