SEEDS 31 



The majority of large seeds should be covered about two or 

 three times their diameter, but in the case of outdoor sown seeds 

 much depends upon the time of the year they are sown. 



Firm the soil. In order to bring the moist soil into contact with 

 the seeds, the soil should be firmed over the rows by slight pressure 

 of the hands or feet, or with a hoe. In sowing seeds out of doors 

 late in Summer, this is especially necessary because the soil, to some 

 extent, has lost its moisture. 



SOWING VERY FINE SEEDS 



An excellent method of getting the best results from very small 

 seeds is to use a mixture of leaf mold and loam and cover with a thin 

 layer of sifted sphagnum moss. The seeds are sown on the sphag- 

 num and are not covered with soil. A pane of glass is placed over 

 the pot. By this method plenty of moisture is available for good 

 germination, but later the watering must be diminished. 



Such seeds as those of Petunias, Salpiglossis, Ornamental 

 Tobacco, Begonias, Thyme, Gloxinia, Gesneria, Tydaea, Lobelia, 

 Mimulus and Calceolaria, may be sown in this manner. The water 

 should be supplied from below by placing the pot in a pail of water. 



When the sphagnum moss is not used, W. N. Craig* suggests 

 cutting a piece of tissue paper and laying it over the surface of 

 the soil and watering over this. The paper keeps the seeds from 

 washing to the side of the pot and prevents the soil from drying out. 

 The paper decays readily and allows the seedlings to push through 

 it. For young seedlings to become dry for a few hours in the hot 

 sun would be fatal and if too much moisture is available there is 

 danger of decay. 



"There is an old-fashioned method of seed sowing specially 

 applicable for seeds which are slow in germinating, such as Primulas 

 and Streptocarpus, though it is also an ideal plan for all fine seeds, 

 including Begonias, and as the writer first saw it in operation many 

 years ago in an old lady's window, he designates it Grandmother's 

 Method of Seed Sowing. 



"It is simplicity itself, while results are almost certain. 



"One and one-half inches of fine soil are placed on top of an 

 ordinary building brick and pressed fairly firm. Sow the seed 

 thinly; very fine seed must only be slightly pressed into the soil, or 

 covered not more than one-sixteenth of an inch. The brick is then 

 placed in a large plate, or flat, containing one inch or so of water, 



* Craig, W. N. Seed Sowing Suggestions. From Trans, of Mass. Hort. Society, Part I, 

 1917, p. 20, 



