Seeds and Seed Sowing. — 149 



consideration makes it necessary that the ground be well pre- 

 pared, and thoroughly mellowed before seed is sown, and that 

 the latter be not placed deeper than would correspond with its 

 vital force. Large seeds, of course, have greater life force, and 

 for this reason can be planted deeper than small seeds, from 

 which comparatively weakly sprouts are issuing. 



Seeds will not sprout in the absence of air, and if planted 

 very deep, may remain dormant in the soil for years, but when 

 brought nearer the surface, and thereby exposed to the oxidizing 

 influence of the air, will at once start into life. This explains 

 why only the weed seeds near the surface grow, while those 

 lying deeper wait until plow or other implements bring them up 

 within the life-giving influence of air and warmth. 



The rule usually given is to plant all seeds as deep as their 

 own diameter, but it is a rule more or less deviated from. Most 

 of the common garden seeds are planted about one inch deep, 

 except such as celery, small herb seeds, etc., that are left very 

 near the surface. Peas may be put from 2 to 4 inches deep, 

 potatoes trom 3 to 4 inches, corn from 2 to 3 inches, etc. 



Planting in Hard Soil. — It is comparatively easy to make 

 seeds germinate in sand, sandy loam, muck, or soil rich in vege- 

 table mold. But when the ground is clayey, and it must be 

 feared that it will pack so tight and close, or bake so hard, that 

 the tiny plants will not be able to break through, the shrewd 

 gardener can yet succeed by means of the more liberal use of 

 seed. What a single plant is unable to accomplish, may be but 

 play for the combined efforts of a number of them. The safest 

 way when dealing with soil in this unfavorable condition, is to 

 sow the seed very thickly ; and while this involves a greater 

 expense for seed, it insures a full stand, and chances for a full 

 crop without adding other disadvantages, as thinning is needed 

 in either case and requires about the same amount of labor 

 whether you have three plants to the inch or six. 



The dried out soil in and after mid-season sometimes proves 

 quite an obstacle to the ready germination of seed sown at that 

 time ; but the grower who takes the precaution to sow immedi- 

 ately after the ground is prepared for it, to deposit the seed 

 somewhat deeper than generally done in early spring sowing, and 

 to firm the soil very carefully after sowing, will usually have no 

 difficulty to make good seed come up speedily. Ahvays sow in 

 freshly stirred ground — this is a most excellent rule, and deserves 

 to be strictly followed in all cases, and for spring, summer, or 

 autumn sowing. It will seldom fail to insure success, as long as 

 there is life in the seed, and the least moisture in the soil. 



Sowing Seed with Garden Drill. — When the ground is 

 prepared so thoroughly that the drill works to best advantage, it is 

 usually also in best condition for the germination of seeds. Let 



