PLANT PROPAGATION 



FIG. 19 DEEP 

 PLANTING EFFECTS 



Seeds planted all at one 



44. Very small seeds (begonia, 

 thyme) are merely dusted on the 

 soil in a seed "pan" which is sunk 

 in moist sand or moss, water never 

 being applied directly. (Fig. 95.) 

 Sometimes the reverse method is 

 practiced the water being contain- 

 ed in an interior pot In each case the 

 water seeps through the porous pot 

 and keeps the soil moist. 



Seeds the size of celery are often 

 watered after sowing by standing 

 the pans in shallow water until the 

 surface soil becomes moist. By 

 these methods the watering is 

 quickly done without danger of 

 washing the seeds out of the soil. 

 Too much water is as bad as too lit- 

 tle, because the soil becomes water-logged and the seeds 

 decay. Dampness throughout the whole soil is all that is 

 needed in a seed bed, except for aquatic plants (water 

 lily, rice). A wet surface over a dry soil is very bad -be- 

 cause the roots cannot grow properly. Hence seeds and 

 seedlings should be watered from below whenever pos- 

 sible. 



For large numbers of seeds and for 

 big seed beds, watering with a hose 

 (or sprinkler) is necessary. Never 

 should a strong stream or an open 

 hose be used for such work, because 

 these may either wash out or bury 

 the seeds, pack the soil or do all three. 

 Florists and gardeners who grow 

 many plants under glass use great A 

 care in watering seeds. They aim to 

 keep the soil moist, not wet, and never logged, because 



ind B, row markers; 

 C, firming board 



