SEED-SOWING. 19 



Calliopsis, and many others. If a person has the conven- 

 ience of a pit or frame to protect them the advantage would 

 be great ; stronger plants, larger flowers, and better seeds 

 would, be the result. For those that prefer sowing early 

 seed it would be a good plan to have a box made for the, 

 purpose, to be covered with glass ; a light 8 by 10 would 

 be a good size, and would protect seedlings from all danger 

 of being cut off by early frost; or the seed may be sown in 

 pots and be covered with glass, though this plan would bo 

 more troublesome than the box. There are some seedlings 

 that will not bear removing very well ; we see this in the 

 Poppy tribe ; such should not be sown before the last of 

 March, and then where intended to flower. 



It must be obvious that planting seed in the ground must 

 be preferable, and covering them with a small frame with 

 glass, for less attention will be required ; and if the spring 

 should be wet it would more likely save them from rotting, 

 which, if fully exposed, would be the case ; or if a -dry 

 spring, would- receive much nourishment from the ground. 

 Sow some seed the beginning of March, and again the mid- 

 dle ; by this means you may save a few plants of each, or 

 if those sown first fail, the latter may succeed. Annuals 

 generally do not require to be covered deep, excepting the 

 large kinds, such as the Lupin, Pea, &c. ; if sown near the 

 surface, the soil being warm and receiving the direct rays 

 of the sun, will more essentially assist the seeds to germi- 

 nate, for light and due moisture is necessary to their growth } 

 and if too deep, it deprives them of the fundamental princi- 

 ples necessary to make them living plants. A seedling; 

 that has forced its way through deep soil is naturally weak- 

 ened, consequently more likely to be destroyed by early 



