LUTHER BURBANK 



after the seeds are planted, into a square pan 

 containing water sufficient in depth to rise nearly 

 or quite even with the surface of the soil. In a 

 few minutes the water saturates the soil and entire 

 contents of the box, without disturbing the seed, 

 and without packing the soil in the least. The 

 boxes are then removed and tilted to one side so 

 that the superfluous water can slowly drain out. 



A thin layer of moss sifted over and under the 

 seeds acts as a non-conducting blanket, equalizing 

 the temperature and retaining moisture. 



A layer of gravel above the moss protects the 

 seeds or young plants from being washed about 

 when they are watered from above, as they are 

 usually sprinkled after a few weeks of growth. 

 The thin covering of gravel also wards off fungous 

 diseases which afflict tender seedlings. All this 

 may seem like unnecessary trouble, but it is 

 absolutely necessary if one wishes to attain the 

 best success. No part of the program caii be 

 omitted without risk of loss or injury to the seeds. 



When the seedlings have two to four leaves it 

 is best to transplant them into another box, 

 whether they are large or small, in order to give 

 them more room in which to develop. 



In each box used for raising fruit seedlings 

 we put about sixty-four, or sometimes late in the 

 season as many as one hundred specimens. They 



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