PROPAGATING TEEES AKD SHRUBS. 



unnecessarily deep. In the majority of cases a safe guide is 

 to place the seed, be it of whatever kind, about three 

 diameters below the surface of the soil. The conditions 

 most favourable to germination are moderate dampness 

 abundance of air, and a temperature of about 4"), and, so 

 as to insure these, the depth at which the seeds are placed 

 will be seen to be of the greatest moment. Generally 

 speaking, the less seeds are covered, consistently with their 

 receiving a sufficient supply of moisture, the better, and bat 

 for their destruction by birds, many of the smaller seeds 

 would vegetate just as well if cast upon the ground-surface, 

 and pressed in, as by being covered with soil. The following 

 interesting experiments with Scotch fir seeds were made by 

 Professor Bauer, of Hohenheim : 



" Those buried one-fifth of an inch came up first, 

 but were subsequently less rigorous they soon, how- 

 ever, acquired vigour ; 



Those covered from one-third to one-half of an inch 

 came up more slowly, but evenly and strong ; 



Those buried from two-thirds of an inch to one inch 

 came up in deficient numbers ; and 



Those buried from one to two inches never showed 

 any signs of germination." 



These statements are equally applicable to the sowing of 

 seeds in general, but especially if their relative size and the 

 hardness of their covering are taken into account. 



Immediately after the bed is prepared the seed should be 

 sown, the amount used varying according to quality, which 

 latter may readily be tested by examining the embryos of a 

 dozen seeds picked up at random from the heap. To ascertain 

 whether seeds are good, the simplest way is to cut open with 

 a sharp penknife, when the kernel ought to completely fill 

 the entire coating or shell. Small seeds might be crushed 

 by the nail, and if good, will leave traces of moisture or 

 emit an odour of turpentine. Another method is to place, 

 one after the other, say, a dozen seeds taken at haphazard 

 from the heap, on a red-hot iron. If good they will turn 

 about with a cracking report ; but if otherwise combustion 

 is slow and smoke is given off. 



