Seeds and Seed Sowing. — 151 



other three fingers, through a rubbing motion of the thumb 

 against the next two fingers. A person can easily learn to sow 

 in this way nearly as evenly and uniformly as is done by the use 

 of the drill. 



The covering is done by simply drawing a steel rake length- 

 wise over each row, and the firming either by the use of the feet, 

 or by patting with the back of the rake. My favorite practice is 

 to rake in the seed of the first row, then while plying the rake 

 over the second row, to walk on the first row, thus firming it, 

 next, while covering the third row, to walk on the second, etc. 

 Covering and firming all at one time, can also be done without 

 rake, and by the use of the feet alone. 



Some of the very fine seeds, like celery, need particularly 

 careful handling. The drill marks are made very shallow, the 

 seed sown rather thickly, and the soil merely firmed by the use 

 of the feet, or back of rake. Special devices are sometimes used 

 for very small seeds, such as covering the soil after seed is sown 

 and lightly covered, with a pane of glass or piece of cloth, etc., 

 and this left on until the young plants appear above ground. 



Vitality of Seeds. — In a general way I am by no means 

 opposed to the use of old seeds, when such are at hand, and a 

 thorough test proves that a large per cent, of them will grow 

 readily. This latter is the chief point of importance. Much 

 theoretical matter has recently been written upon the different 

 behavior of plants from new and old seed, as for instance, that new 

 seed tends to produce foliage, and old seed, fruit and seed, etc. 

 This difference in practice, however, is too small to deserve more 

 than passing notice. As a rule, new seeds germinate more promptly 

 than old seeds do, and this is one advantage at least in favor of 

 the former. I have not been able to discover that the new cab- 

 bage seeds produce larger heads than seed of the same variety, 

 grown by the same person the year before ; nor that old melon 

 seed gives ripe melons a day in advance of new seed of the 

 same variety. The different kinds of seed vary greatly in the 

 time they retain their vitality, and much also depends on the 

 condition in which they are gathered and stored. Onion seed, 

 for instance, is not considered reliable the second season ; yet I 

 have known a sample kept over until second season in a tight 

 paper bag in the garret, to contain 85 per cent, live, vigorous seed. 

 Properly ripened and gathered seed, preserved under average 

 favorable conditions, will retain its vitality as follows : 



Anise 3 years. Borage 8 years. 



Artichoke, Globe 6 " Borecole or Kale 5 



Asparagus 5 " Broccoli 5 



Balm 4 " Brussels Sprouts 5 



Basil 8 " Cabbage S 



Bean 6 " Caraway 3 



Beet ... 6 " Cardoon 7 



