94 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



14; balm, clover, 15; lavender, purslane, 16; sage, pep- 

 per, 20 ; parsnip, parsley, asparagus, 21 ; and potato in 

 28 days. It seems that seeds lighter than water do not 

 germinate so soon as those heavier. 



Though seeds will vegetate with due supplies of heat 

 and moisture, a fertile soil is necessary for their further 

 progress. Fine, light, rich mould favors the vegetation 

 and early progress of most seeds, though many, after they 

 are a little advanced, flourish best in strong, heavy loam. 

 A compost of peat or leaf-mould, fine sand, and well rot- 

 ted manure, should be prepared, and if all the finer seeds 

 are covered therewith, one great difficulty in growing 

 fine vegetables on stiff soils will be removed, as well as 

 their early maturity secured. Even in dry weather one 

 can generally bring up seeds by digging and finely pulver- 

 izing the earth ; then soak it well with water that has 

 been some time exposed to the air to raise its temperature ; 

 then sow the seed in drills of the proper depth, and sift 

 over the bed a coat of this compost. In the case of large 

 seeds, as corn, beans, etc., after the ground is prepared, 

 only the hills or drills need to be thus soaked, and then 

 covered with the compost. 



Special directions for managing seeds requiring peculiar 

 care will be given hereafter. 



Seeds must not only be properly managed, but there is 

 no pleasure in growing them unless of the right kind, as 

 it is very vexatious to sow Early Yorks when you think 

 you are sowing Drumheads, and vice versa. The way to 

 avoid such mistakes is either to raise your own seed, care- 

 fully label them, or to know of whom you buy. Your 

 own eye in the case of many seeds will not assist you at 

 all in discriminating. 



Seed must not only be of the right sort, but true to that 

 sort. Early York cabbage seed may be sown, or Scarlet 

 radish seed ; yet, from having been planted near to some 

 other varieties, the seed is crossed with them and the most 



