THE GARDEN- 



FIG. 44. A seed box to protect 

 the seed from ants 



SEED BEDS 



Ants and Seeds. There are some kinds of seeds, such 

 as lettuce, tomato, and tobacco, of which ants are very 

 fond, and which are so small that ants can carry them 

 away. If such seeds are planted in soil in which there 

 are ants, very few of them will have a chance to grow. 

 Sometimes the ants destroy even large seeds which they 

 cannot carry away whole. 

 When the soil is cultivated, 

 the ants in it have their 

 homes broken up. If it is 

 cultivated several times 

 within a few days, the ants 

 will tire of the place and 

 find a home in quieter 

 ground; cultivating three times will almost always drive 

 them away. Seeds can then be planted, and, unless the 

 seeds germinate very slowly, they will be entirely safe, 

 for the ants do not disturb the young growing plants. 



Another way of protecting the seed is by washing it 

 in petroleum, which will not injure the seed if it is done 

 quickly enough. Some disagreeable substance, such as 

 pepper, or few ashes, or buhac, or lime if put into the 

 ground with the seed, will also drive the ants away. 



Ant-proof Seed Beds. The surest of all ways to protect 

 seeds from ants is by planting them in a box supported 

 by legs which stand in dishes of oil or water. Such a box 

 can be set in the shade where the soil will not dry rapidly ; 

 and if necessary it can be sheltered by a roof, so that 



