92 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



pressed by the earth in every part, in order to retain moist- 

 ure sufficient to encourage vegetation ; but they should not 

 be so deeply buried as to be deprived of air, or have their 

 ascending shoots impeded by too much soil above. In all 

 cases, seeds should be sown in fresh-dug soil, that they 

 may have the benefit of the moisture therein, but they 

 should never be put in when the soil is really wet, as the 

 ground will bake and the seed perish. Moist weather in 

 summer is excellent for putting in seeds, provided the 

 ground is still friable. Just before a light rain is the best 

 possible time for sowing turnips and other summer-sown 

 crops. 



Seeds of most kinds should be sown in drills or rows. 

 In these they can be placed at any required depth, while 

 if broadcast, some will be uncovered, and others too 

 deeply buried in the earth. In drills you can know also 

 where to look for the young plants ; they can have the 

 soil dug around them ; they will thus grow much faster, 

 and are much more easily thinned and cultivated. When 

 the seeds are planted, the earth should generally be press- 

 ed upon them with a roller, by treading with the feet, 

 in the case of large seeds, by smoothing the surface 

 with the back of the spade, or by walking over them on a 

 board for the smaller kinds. Pressing the earth upon 

 them will retain the moisture about them, and hasten 

 their vegetation. When they come up, keep them free 

 from weeds, and thin them as hereafter directed in treat- 

 ing of each plant. 



A great deal of the subsequent growth of the plant de- 

 pends upon their not being sown too thickly, or at least 

 thinned properly as soon as the young seedlings appear. 

 A plant raised among a lot of crowded seedlings is very 

 apt to die before it has made its fourth leaf. This seldom, 

 happens if the seeds are sown thin, and a little powdered 

 charcoal is mixed with the earth. 



Some seeds, which, like those of the carrot, adhere to- 



