%6 AMERICAN GARDENER. 



167. If I have strayed here out of the garden 

 into the field, let it be recollected, that I write 

 principally for the use of farmers. I now return 

 to garden-sowing. 



168. When the seeds are properly, and at 

 suitable distances, placed in the drills, rake the 

 ground, and, in all cases, tread it with your feet, 

 unless it be -very moist. Then rake it slightly 

 again ; for all seeds grow best when the earth is 

 pressed closely about them. When the plants 

 come up, thin them, keep them clear of weeds, 

 and attend to the directions given under the names 

 of the several plants. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



169. The weather for transplanting, whether of 

 table vegetables, or of trees, is the same as that 

 for sowing. If you do this work in wet weather, 

 or, \vhenthegroundiswet, the work cannot be 

 well done. It is no matter what the plant is, 

 whether it be a cucumber plant, or an oak-tree. 

 It has been observed, as to seeds, that they like 

 the earth to touch them in every part, and to lie 

 close about them. It is the same withroota. One 

 half of the bad growth that we see in orchards 

 arises from negligence in the planting', from 

 tumbling the eaith carelessly in upon the roots. 

 The earth should be zsjine as possible ; for, if it be 

 not, part of the roots will remain untouched by 

 the earth. If ground be wet, it cannot be fine. 

 And, if mixed wet, it will remain in a sort of mor- 

 tar, and will cling and bind together, and will 

 leave more or les-s of cracks, when it become 



