THE SEED-BED 



ets. I always have the seeds of perennials 

 soaked for twenty -four hours before planting, 

 and find that by so doing they are very sure to 

 germinate. Care must be taken, when soak- 

 ing a number of different kinds at the same 

 time, to place the name of each variety of 

 seed under the glass or bowl containing the 

 same. When ready for planting, pour off the 

 water and mix the wet seeds carefully with 

 very dry earth, in a cigar- box, which is of 

 the right size and easy to handle. Then 

 sow, not too deeply, in rows about a foot 

 apart in the bed, covering very lightly, ac- 

 cording to size. One -half inch is enough for 

 the large seeds. The very fine varieties should 

 simply have the earth sprinkled on them. 

 If planted too deep they will never come up. 

 Seeds of annuals do not require soaking. 



Pat the earth down firmly with the back 

 of the trowel, sprinkle with a fine sprinkler 

 late every afternoon, and it is not your fault 

 if you do not have hundreds and thousands of 

 young plants to make your own place beau- 



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