THE SEED 17 



layers of soil moist, for, if left loose and dusty, they 

 would become dry, and the seeds would suffer from lack 

 of moisture. 



After the seeds have been sown the box must be 

 watered. This requires care, or delicate seeds will be 

 washed out of the ground. A watering-can having a 

 rose with very fine holes, should be used, and the water 

 only allowed to fall very gently. 



The boxes should be placed in a shady place where 

 they are screened from heavy rain and excessive sun- 

 shine. It is often of advantage to cover the box with a 

 sheet of glass. In this way the air is kept moist, and 

 germination usually hastened. The glass also prevents 

 damage by rain if the boxes cannot be placed under a 

 roof. 



In order to observe the effect of a firm seed bed sow 

 onion seeds in two boxes or pots. Compress the soil of 

 one firmly after sowing the seeds. In the other cover 

 the seeds lightly with sifted soil, avoiding carefully any 

 compression. Tend the boxes or pots carefully, and 

 note the difference in the manner the two sets of 

 seeds germinate and the seedling grow, recording your 

 observations in your note-book and making drawings 

 and diagrams of the seedlings as they grow. Similar 

 experiments may be made with seeds other than onion. 

 These experiments should also be tried in garden beds 

 which are left to receive no watering beyond the natural 



rainfall. 



Seed Beds. 



Seeds are generally sown in garden beds, or, young 

 seedlings raised in boxes, are transplanted to beds. The 



