PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 137 



with broken crock, with coarse siftings of peat or sod, or any coarse 

 material which will allow the moisture to pass off. Then I make a 

 compost of two parts rotten sod, one of peat and one of sand, and 

 fill the boxes with the compost and press down firmly. Sow the 

 seed evenly and cover according to its size. On one corner of the 

 box I plane a place, rub over with white lead and write the name of 

 the seed and date of sowing. This takes only an extra minute and 

 is of much value afterward. 



After sowing, the seed should have a good watering to settle the 

 soil. The boxes can then be piled four or five deep in a pit or 

 placed in a greenhouse. If in a pit, as soon as the boxes are frozen 

 they should be covered with leaves to keep them so until spring. 

 If no pit is available they may be piled in a sheltered place and 

 covered with leaves. In case of seeds which take one or two years 

 to germinate it will be well to cover the boxes with boards so that 

 squirrels or mice may not get at the seed. About April put the 

 boxes in frames where they can get the morning sun, but not in a 

 shady place. Cover them with pine needles or sphagnum moss 

 which will save a great amount of labor and watering. Winter the 

 first season in a deep pit, lightly covered with leaves or meadow hay. 

 If no pit is available three or four inches of pine needles or leaves 

 placed over them will keep them in good shape until spring, but on 

 no account should the boxes be left without protection, as the 

 young seedlings will suffer very much if left in so little depth of soil. 

 These boxes are from fourteen to sixteen inches square and will 

 hold from one hundred to two hundred plants according to their 

 growth. The conifers such as pines, spruce, larch, cedar and 

 hemlock, require more attention and care. It is almost impossible 

 to grow many of the finer kinds in our New England climate out of 

 doors, although with care many of the ordinary conifers can be 

 grown out of doors. The seed may be sown thinly in rows or 

 broadcast, about the twentieth of May, and slightly covered, 

 certainly not more than twice their own diameter. If sown broad- 

 cast they should be lightly raked in and the bed rolled with a light 

 wooden roller. The bed should be covered with screens to protect 

 the young plants, partly from the sun and partly from the birds, 

 which often pick up the young seedlings which are just breaking 

 ground. If no laths are handy the beds can be covered with pine. 



