THE NURSERY-BOOK. 



Or the earth may be firmed with a hoe or the back of a spade, 

 or a board may be placed upon the row and then be thoroughly 

 settled by walking over it. In the sowing of celery and other 

 small and slow seeds, it is a frequent practice to leave the board 

 on the row until the seeds appear in order to hold the moisture. 

 This is a doubtful expedient, however, for the young plants are 

 apt to be quickly dispatched by the sun when the board is 

 removed. If the board is employed, it should be raised an inch 

 or two from the ground as soon as the plants begin to appear. 

 But the shade of the board is too dense and plants do not grow 

 stocky under it. It is better to use brush or lath screens if pro- 

 tection is desired ; or fine litter, if free from weed seeds, may be 

 used. In most cases, however, screens will not be needed by 

 celery and similar seeds if the ground is in the proper condition 

 and is well firmed at planting time. It is always advisable, 

 nevertheless, to place the beds for slow and small seeds where 

 they can be watered occasionally. 



There are many kinds of sci^eens in use to prevent the dry- 

 ing out of small seeds in out-door seedage and to protect the 



young seedlings. 

 These are used also 

 in the shading of cut- 

 tings. The common 

 lath screen (Fig. 3) is 

 the most useful for 

 general purposes. It 

 is simply a square 

 frame made from 

 common laths laid at 

 right angles in a 

 double series. The 

 interstices between 



the laths are equal in width to the laths themselves. These 

 screens are laid horizontally upon a light frame-work a few 

 inches above the seeds. The passage of the sun constantly 

 moves the shadows over the bed, and sufficient shade is afforded 

 while thorough ventilation is allowed. This and all other ele- 



3. Lath Cscrten. 



