VEGETABLE PLANTS. 25 



a little ignorance frequently leads to much dis- 

 appointment. By fine seeds we mean such as 

 celery and the seeds of various flowering plants, 

 which are so very small that, if covered with 

 soil to any considerable depth, they will not 

 germinate ; and on the other hand, if left on 

 the surface, they will soon become too dry to 

 sprout. Hence many failures are made, and 

 the seeds are frequently suspected of lacking 

 vitality, when the fault really lies in the bad 

 manner in which they were planted. Such 

 seeds should be sown upon fresh, moist soil, 

 and little or no covering, save, perhaps, a slight 

 brushing of the surface, given them. The 

 proper conditions for stimulating vitality must 

 be brought about by properly firming, or press- 

 ing the surface soil around the seed, and a 

 proper degree of moisture and light must be 

 kept until the plant has taken root. One of 

 the best modes of accomplishing these ends is 

 to sow the seeds in slight depressions, or drills, 

 then brush a very slight amount of soil over 

 jthem, water the surface well with a fine spray, 

 and then cover it by laying directly upon the 

 soil a pane of glass or a piece of cotton sheet- 

 ing. It must then be watched, and this cover- 

 ing left only until the seeds have sprouted and 



