i8 



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ground, so that the walk shall be two or three inches 

 lower than the surlliee of tiie bed. Doing this work 

 neatly very muck improves the looks of the ground, 

 and as it occupies but a short time it should never be 

 nei!:lected. Havino; dressed the irround take a drill 

 I'ake and mark it otF into drills suitable for your seed. 

 The depth that seeds should be sown depends much 

 upon their size and character. Seed as large as peas 

 mail ^^^ planted as deep as two or more inches and 

 germinate, but those as small as celery planted to 

 that depth would probably remain there until their 

 vitality was destroyed, before sufficient warmth would 

 reach them to cause them to sprout. Having scatter- 

 ed the seed in the drills, the amount of which we shall 

 speak of under each article separately, gently press 

 the soil on to it, that every seed may be thomughly 

 covered with loam, for upon this depends its germin- 

 ating. This work should be done with care and neat- 

 Tiess. 



"Broadcast sowing is deservedly falling into disrepute, for with 

 a gardener, its only recommendation is that of expedition at the 

 most hurried season. In reality, however, it causes an actual loss 

 of time. The plants must be thinned oat and transplanted at a 

 period when every ftioment should be spent in resisting the en- 

 croachments of weeds and insects. There is considerable risk in 

 this removal from the seed bed; the fibrous roots are broken and 

 injured so that unusual care is necessary in their protection, until 

 they become fairly established. The drill system is certainly much 

 inore tidy and convenient. The hoe can be used freely, while the 

 beneficial influences of light and air are efTectually admitted to the 

 leaves and soil. The good oftects will be discovered, not only in 

 the increased product and its improved quality, but also, in the 

 better preparation of the land for the succeeding crop. 



A seed requires heat, air, and moisture to insure germination. 

 In the absence of either of these three conditions, it may remain 

 dormant for centuries. When waking into life, moisture is absorb- 

 >ed, the seed swells, the starch is converted into sugar, the germ 

 bursts its integuments, and the stem pushes its vvay towards the 

 surface, while the loot buries itself downward in search of nutri- 

 ment. Now, it is surely an object to hasten this process, for 

 thereby the crop will be accelerated, and the young plant sooner 

 placed beyond all danger of its enemies. The mere putting the 

 seed into the ground is not always sufficient. With certain kinds, 

 «t is w-ell known thntdnys, and even weeks, will elapse before the 



