120 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



Early aeration of the soil assists germination, and promotes 

 vigorous growth by encouraging the nitrifying bacteria. 



One of the best materials with which to form a seed bed, 

 when the area to be sown is not too large, is finely sifted 

 exhausted manure from an old hot-bed, as is always used in 

 the French garden with excellent results. The ordinary soil 

 should be covered with this material about three inches deep. 

 Seeds germinate in it quickly, evenly, and strongly, and the 

 plants lift easily from it with unbroken roots. 



Seed Sowing. Having prepared a loose warm surface, the 

 soil should be raked down fine and the seed sown either broad- 

 cast or in drills. The depth at which it is covered depends 

 upon the size and variety of the seed, the condition of the soil, 

 and the period of the year. It may be sown shallower in the 

 spring, when the ground is moist, than in the summer when the 

 ground is dry. Very small seeds should, as a rule, be barely 

 covered, whilst large seeds, such as peas or beans, may be put 

 in from two to four inches deep. The cost of seed being small 

 in comparison with the value of the crop, it is advisable to sow 

 rather thickly so as to ensure a full plant. 



The garden is not only more attractive but the work of culti- 

 vation is much easier when- the plants are grown in straight 

 evenly spaced lines, -therefore be careful 

 to make a perfectly straight mark for the 

 first row as a guide, then use a marker 

 on the drill, and all the rows will be 

 straight and at equal distances apart. If 

 the sowing is done by hand, first mark out 

 the rows and open the drills to the depth 

 required, then taking the receptacle for 

 seed in the left hand, walk along the row 

 and drop the seed evenly from the right 

 hand, held in the position shown in the 

 illustration. The seed is held by the little 

 and next two fingers, from whence it gra- 

 sowing seed by Hand, dually works down, being evenly dropped 

 by a slight rubbing motion of the thumb against the next two 

 fingers. 



