HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



SOW 



either of these, mixed in about equal parts 

 with our sod mould,we use instead of peat 

 for all thread-like rooting plants. Besides, I 

 true peat is rarely to be found in this i 

 country, and is well replaced by leaf ! 

 mould, if necessary. 



Souring. Is one of the operations of the 

 garden that it is easy to give instructions j 

 in; and if they are carefully followed, there j 

 need never be failure. One of the most 

 important things is the condition of 

 the soil, which should be as thoroughly 

 broken up and pulverized by plowing 

 and harrowing, digging or raking, as 

 its nature will admit, care being taken 

 that it is worked when in that state 

 that is neither too dry nor too wet. If 

 too dry, particularly if the soil is of a 

 clayey nature, it cannot well be got in 

 the proper friable condition without an 

 unusual amount of labor; and, on the j 

 other hand, if too wet, it clogs and bakes, 

 and becomes so hard that the air cannot 

 penetrate, leaving it in a condition from 

 which good results cannot be obtained. 

 We have seen stiff, clayey land that has 

 shown bad results for years after, by be- 

 ing plowed and harrowed while too wet. 

 Another condition of the soil, before sow- 

 ing seeds, is to have the surface as 

 smooth and level as possible. Seeds can 

 either be sown broadcast or in drills, and | 

 for all garden operations the sowing is 

 mostly done in drills. If sowing such 

 vegetables as Parsnips, Onions, Beets, or 

 Carrots is to be done on a large scale, 

 the use of the Seed Drill (which see) 

 will save seed and labor; but if for ordi- 

 nary garden use, it had better be done 

 by hand. If only a small quantity is 

 wanted, the drills can be made with a 

 hoe; but if larger, a simple implement 

 known as a Marker (which see) had bet- 



SPO 



ter be used. It is often given as a rule, 

 that seeds should be covered with soil 

 only as deep as their own bulk; but this 

 rule can hardly be followed in our dry 

 climate, as many kinds would dry up or 

 shrivel with such' a slight covering. As 

 an example, Onion or Carrot seed should 

 be covered from a half inch to an inch, 

 while Beans or Pease should be covered 

 from two to three inches. For sowing 

 of flower seeds, see "Propagation of 

 Plants by Seeds. " But the most import- 

 ant matter of all in sowing seeds in the 

 open ground is, that they be properly 

 firmed in the soil. A simple way is to 

 tread the rows, after the seed is sown, 

 with the feet. This is detailed fully in 

 Onion culture, page 150. 

 Spadix. A succulent spike bearing many 

 sessile, closely placed flowers; a spike in- 

 closed in a spathe. 



Spathe. A large bract rolling over an in- 

 florescence, and guarding it while young, 

 as in the Calla and Arum. 

 Sperma, Spermum. In Greek compounds, 



a seed, or any seed-like part 

 Spherical. Kound like a sphere. 

 Spica. A spike, which see. 

 Spicate. Having a spike. 

 Spike, Spica. A. long simple axis with many 

 sessile flowers. A compound spike is a 

 collection of spikes arranged in a race- 

 mose manner. 



Spikelet. The small terminal group of 

 florets in Grasses inclosed within one or 

 more glumes. 



Spine. A. stiff, sharp-pointed body, con- 

 sisting of woody tissue covered with cel- 

 lular tissue; a thorn. 

 Spiral. Twisted like a screw. 

 Spongiole, Spongekt. The young, tender 

 extremity of a root, by which fluid food 

 is absorbed from the earth. 



