158 , CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



low sowing, if large rainfall is characteristic of the region : 

 deep sowing if scant rainfall is to be expected: shallow 

 sowing early in the rainy season : deep sowing near its 

 close: shallow sowing on the heavier soils: deep sowing 

 on the lighter soils. Late in the season the surface layer 

 which is air dried in spite of stirring, does not count as 

 depth at all. It must be brushed aside and the seed sown 

 in the moist layer beneath whether the sowing is done by 

 hand or with a seed drill. Later cultivation will level the 

 soil back around the plant stem to assist in retaining mois- 

 ture below. Conforming to this condition, the larger sum- 

 mer-sown seeds should be sown in the light soil of the 

 interior valleys at four to six inches deep twice or three 

 times the depth prescribed for the seed in humid climates 

 or in the humid side of our own climate. Seeds sown in 

 hills can stand deep planting better than when sown 

 singly, as they seem to join their strength in uplifting the 

 weight of soil above them. 



Second: Soil firming. This is another act which aids 

 the seed in other ways, but is primarily for moisture furn- 

 ishing. A seed thrown into a loose surface layer may ger- 

 minate and perish for lack of moisture and soil-contact or 

 it may lie unquickened until a footstep or a shower com- 

 pacts the earth about it. It may thus lie half a year in 

 California. Many amateurs are much too }dnd in their 

 intent and too cruel in their method, by making the sur- 

 face as loose as possible and then gently placing the seed 

 in the loose layer. It is better to jump on it with both 

 feet. Whether it be done by direct tramping or by tramp- 

 ing a narrow board placed upon the sown row, or tramped 

 down with a block with a long handle, or by using the 

 garden or field roller, or by flat slaps with the back of the 

 planting hoe, it matters not; it is only essential that the 

 firming of the inclosing layer should be given unless im- 

 mediate water settling of the ground is anticipated. And 

 this firming is conditioned in degree upon soil and season 

 just as depth of covering is, viz. : light soil or late in 

 season, heaviest firming; heavier soil or early in season, 



