PREPARING THE SOIL 33 



when it is wet ; treading consolidates the soil and closes 

 up the air spaces. Other things being equal, dig heavy 

 soils as long as possible before sowing, but sandy soils as 

 near to sowing time as convenient. Force the spade or 

 fork vertically into the soil ; a slanting cut will make for 

 shallower working (see Plate 3, Figs. 1 and 2). Let 

 the ground stand uncropped as little as possible, for 

 uncovered soil is apt to have its supply of nitrates 

 washed away. 



Sowing. When the ground is sufficiently warm for 

 the reception of the seeds, the surface should be raked and 

 smoothed down. All lumps and stones should then be 

 cleared away and a fine crumbling state of the earth pro- 

 vided . Do not, however, work the surface into a powder, 

 for when a shower comes and the sun follows, a hard tough 

 skin will be formed which no seedling will have the 

 power to force its way through. If lumps are left, it is 

 quite impossible to sow finely and in straight lines, and 

 more important still, the seeds can never be surrounded 

 by soil as they should be. Between the lumps the 

 interstices will catch the moisture and probably rot the 

 delicate growths. Moisture, however, is necessary to 

 promote germination, but the old jingle is worth remem- 

 bering : " Sow in dry and plant in wet is a golden rule 

 you should never forget." In most cases, it is advisable 

 to sow in drills or lines, using a length of twine to serve 

 as a guide ; broad casting is a wasteful method which 

 should be seldom adopted . At present there is a shortage 

 of seed as well as an increased demand, so it is impera- 

 tive that no waste be permitted. Penny packets of 

 many varieties will provide quantities sufficient for most 



