for the first transplanting. Before using the boxes either for seed 

 or transplants, five or six ^4-inch holes ought to be bored in each 

 for drainage. 



For propagating seed a light soil, well mixed with a liberal 

 amount of sharp sand, and put through a fine sieve, is the best 

 to use. For seed raising it should be of such character that 

 when a damp portion is firmly compressed in the hand it will 

 fall apart when released. It should never bake. Good old garden 

 loam, to which an equal quantity of sand has been added, 

 is usually a good soil for propagating seed. The soil should 

 be sifted and thoroughly fined before the seeds the put into it ; 

 especially when small seeds are to be sown. About one-third well 

 decayed stable manure or leaf mold added to the above composi- 

 tion would aid in the growth of the young seedlings. 



When wanted for propagation the boxes should be filled to 

 within half an inch of the top and the soil smoothed over with 

 a small piece of board. The seed should be sown evenly over the 

 surface and pressed lightly with a smooth piece of wood to imbed 

 it in the soil. 



The proper depth for sowing varies according to the size of the 

 seed. Seed such as the different species of Eucalyptus, Casua- 

 rina, etc., should be sown upon the surface and then covered with 

 a very thin layer of finely sifted soil, or of sand mixed with about 

 one-fourth soil. 



From one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an inch of covering, for 

 seed such as the ones mentioned will give the best results. A very 

 good rule to go by in regard to seed sowing is to make the thick- 

 ness of the covering equal as nearly as possible the diameter of 

 the seed. 



After sowing the soil should be kept moist but not too wet. If 

 too much water is used "damping-off" is very apt to set in and this 

 fungus disease often proves very disastrous to such seedlings as 

 the different species of Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Grevillea, Acacia, 

 etc. A fine sprinkler should be used when watering. The plants 

 should never be watered when the sun is beating directly on them. 

 If damping-off makes its appearance a sprinkling of hot sand will 

 sometimes check it. 



