SEED SOWING 135 



at a more uniform depth, especially when machines are 

 used. (4) In plant boxes or small seed beds water may 

 be applied between the rows. This is often a great ad- 

 vantage when damping off is likely to occur. (5) In 

 stiff soils the percentage of germination is greater, be- 

 cause the seedlings assist each other in their effort to 

 reach the light. (6) Seedlings come up straighter, and 

 may be arranged in a more orderly manner when pulled 

 for transplanting; therefore, they may be removed more 

 rapidly from the seed bed, and also handled with greater 

 speed when transplanting. Both of these advantages 

 are well worth considering when thousands or perhaps 

 millions of plants are to be shifted. 



197. Hand sowing. Sowing by hand in the open 

 ground is commonly practiced by home vegetable garden- 

 ers. Lines or markers should be used at such times to 

 secure straight rows. The furrows may be opened with 

 a small shovel of the wheel hoe cultivator or with a rake 

 or suitable hand hoe. One of the best ways to make a 

 shallow furrow for small seeds is to stretch a line and 

 follow it with the back of the garden rake which will 

 make a neater furrow than any other tool. The seeds 

 should be dropped at uniform distances in the furrow, 

 and if they are small, as turnip and radish seeds, a let- 

 ter envelope may be used to advantage. Seal the envelope 

 and cut one end off; after placing several tablespoonfuls 

 of seed in it, move it slowly over the row, shaking back 

 and forward as may be required to secure an even dis- 

 tribution of the seed. After some practice seed may be 

 sown more rapidly in this way than is possible with the 

 thumb and fingers. The furrows may be closed by using 

 hoe, rake or hand plow, the method used depending upon 

 the required depth of covering. 



When sowing under glass the usual plan is to make 

 the furrows with a piece of lath or a straight-edge, or 

 perhaps with a pot label drawn along a straight-edge, 



