NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 5 



rolled or gently pressed upon the seed after sowing. The 

 best of seeds often fail from improper management. When 

 sown too early, while the ground is wet, they are apt to rot. 

 When sown too shallow, in a dry time, there may not be 

 sufficient moisture to sprout them, or they may be destroyed 

 by dry and hot weather after they have germinated, or insects 

 may destroy the plants as soon as they appear above ground. 

 The first effect of air, heat, and moisture is to change the 

 starchy matter of the seed into a sugary pulp, the proper 

 food of the embryo. If at this time the seed be withered 

 by exposure to heat without sufficient covering it will perish ; 

 or if planted in a fresh dug soil and the 'above change in the 

 nature of the seed takes place, but the earth if not pressed 

 upon it, the seed dries up and the embryo perishes. Others, 

 again, are buried too deeply, and though the seed swells, 

 yet sufficient warmth and air are not obtained to give it life. 

 The first thing in sowing is a suitable preparation of the soil, 

 so that the young roots may easily penetrate it. It must be 

 made more or less fine for different seeds. The size of a 

 seed is a nearly safe guide as to the depth at which it should 

 be sown : beans, of all kinds, at two inches ; peas, an inch 

 and a half; carrots, parsnips, turnips, onions, radishes, 

 lettuce, cabbage, and such seeds require to be sown shallow, 

 almost close to the surface. The seed must be firmly fixed 

 in the soil and pressed by the earth on every part, in order 

 to retain moisture sufficient to encourage vegetation, yet not 

 so firmly buried as to be deprived of air, or to have their 

 ascending shoots impeded by too much soil above. The 

 earth should be pressed upon them with a roller, or by tread- 

 ing with the feet in case of large seeds, or by smoothing the 

 surface with the back of the spade, or by walking over them 

 on a board for the smaller kinds. In all cases seeds should 

 be sown in fresh-dug soil, that they might have the benefit 

 of the moisture within ; but they should never be put in 

 when the soil is really wet, as the ground will bake, and the 

 seeds perish. And never sow broadcast if it is desirable to 

 save time, expense, and trouble. When sown in drills or 

 rows, weeds can be more easily destroyed and the ground 

 kept open and loose. Almost all kinds of vegetable seeds 

 may be sown this month, with a prospect of success. See 

 that the soil is thoroughly well prepared and well manured 

 with old well-mellowed dung. 



