RAISING PLANTS FROM SEEDS 9 



RAISING PLANTS FROM SEEDS 



The sowing of seeds appears, on the face of it, to be a very 

 simple process indeed ; but done on a large scale, with com- 

 mercial success or failure in the balance, it is by no means the 

 perfunctory operation some take it to be. 



It is not enough to say, " Follow Nature," for, in the matter 

 of seed sowing, Nature is far too wasteful in her methods for us 

 to imitate her. In her riotous plenty, she will scatter a thousand 

 seeds to insure that one will grow. There is, however, a sense 

 in which we shall do well to follow her lead. By watching her 

 we can select the best time of year at which to sow various 

 kinds of seeds ; we can note the meteorological conditions 

 under which they germinate and grow ; avoiding her wasteful- 

 ness, we can imitate, or even improve, her methods of scattering, 

 of covering, of watering. By observing her, we can inform 

 ourselves as to the most congenial soil and surroundings for 

 any particular genera and species. For example, in the matter 

 of lime, there are certain plants, like the Cowslip, which cannot 

 live without it. There are others to which it is obnoxious, 

 while again there are others quite indifferent. Some plants 

 demand heavy soil, others light, and it is well to inform 

 ourselves on these points before we sow seeds, for surely 

 it is advisable to introduce new life into conditions which 

 thousands of generations of plants have proved to be the most 

 congenial. 



In every department of nursery work the motto must be : 

 " Thorough." " Muddling through " can never be made to 

 pay. Whatever the task, it must be set about in a businesslike 

 way, if for no other reason than that it is business. When 

 about to sow a quantity of seeds, get everything ready to your 

 hands. See to it that an ample supply of suitable compost is 

 prepared ; that the pots or pans or boxes are cleaned and well 

 crocked for drainage ; that the requisite space is awaiting them 

 as they finally pass from the hands. Nothing is more annoying 

 to a man, immersed in his work, than to find, just as he is 

 going strong, that he must leave off to prepare more compost 

 or to make room. Much of his zest passes off in such a 

 break. 



