162 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



surface or in lines, and pressed down by a smooth board 

 into the soil, so that the seed, be it large or small, will 

 form a level surface with the soil. This being done, the 

 same prepared soil should be sifted evenly over the top, 

 just enough to cover the seed. Again press this layer of 

 soil which has covered the seeds gently with the smooth 

 board. 



It is a great help to the seed to have the surface again 

 covered with a light material that would hold moisture, 

 such as dry moss, or powdered vegetable matter of any 

 kind which is light and will hold moisture. This should 

 be rubbed through the sieve over the seed boxes, just 

 thick enough to cover the soil (not more than one-six- 

 teenth of an inch). It is very beneficial in the germina- 

 tion of the seed, as with such a top-dressing one watering 

 with a fine rose watering-pot will keep the soil moist 

 enough usually until the seeds come up. It is a great 

 mistake to be continually watering seeds after they have 

 been sown. The rule in all these things is never to water 

 until the surface indicates that the soil is dry. 



A Cold Frame. The arrangement which comes next to 

 the seed box in simplicity is the cold frame. It is simply 

 for the purpose of concentrating sun heat and protection 

 from low temperatures and heavy rain storms. It is a 

 convenient receptacle for the seed boxes already de- 

 scribed, or it may be put over seeds sown in the ground 

 the soil being prepared to receive the seed in about the 

 same way already described for filling the boxes. The 

 frame is made of inch boards, the front board about 

 twelve inches wide, the back board or boards eighteen 

 inches wide and the sides sloping from eighteen to twelve 

 inches to meet the widths of the front and back boards. 

 The frame is usually made three feet from front to rear 

 (for convenience in working from the front, but can be 

 )f any length desired). This frame is covered with glazed 

 sash or cloth frames or lath frames or first one then 

 another, according to the amount of protection and heat 

 or of shade desirable. The arrangement is called a ' ' cold 



