CH. IV 



NURSERIES 133 



pointed end being lower than the other pulley by nearly 

 the length of the bag. The two ropes are joined 

 together at a convenient distance, and when the bag is 

 raised the larger end is hauled up to the level of the 

 upper pulley, while the lower end, which now acts as 

 spout, is drawn over the lower pulley and discharges the 

 water (Fig. 27). 



Where the supply of water is some distance away, 

 and bullock, mule, or donkey transport is cheap, it may 

 be advantageous to bring the water in leather or canvas 

 bags slung in pairs across the backs of these animals, or, 

 if wheeled traffic is possible, by means of water-carts. 

 There are numerous other ways of lifting water, especially 

 where the lift is slight, such as a canoe-shaped trough, 

 set up like a see-saw, which is used in Ceylon rice-fields, 

 scoops, etc. 



The seed is sown in the beds in parallel rows, usually 

 across the width of the beds. It is usually 

 put in at a depth about equal to the thick- 

 ness of the individual seeds. They can 

 be put in to the required depth if they are 

 large, either by pricking holes in the soil 

 with the finger, or with a wooden or 

 metal implement ; or a furrow is made 

 with the help of the trowel-hoe (Fig. 28) 

 or, especially for small or moderate-sized 

 seeds, with a furrow-board or wedge-board. 

 Figs. 29 and 30 illustrate two kinds of such 

 boards and of the impressions made by a ~**w\ 

 them on the soil of a seed-bed. For larger 

 seeds a single wedge is also sometimes 

 used. Certain kinds of seeds, which are 

 not to be allowed to stand in too moist a 

 soil, have to be sown on ridges, and the 

 seed-bed is divided into ridges either by means of a hoe, 

 as e.g. when water-channels have to meander through 

 the seed-bed for percolation, as indicated above, or 

 with the ridge mould (Fig. 31). After the seeds are 

 put in they should be lightly covered with earth. 



