26 BUSH-FRUITS 



kept some time before sowing. Certain it is that by 

 the latter method most of them remain dormant during 

 one whole season, germinating the second spring. 

 Unless they are to be sown in very large quantities, 

 gardeners' flats, about two feet square and five or six 

 inches deep, will be found most convenient. The soil 

 used should be rather light and porous, one which will 

 not bake or pack hard. The seed may be sown in 

 rows two or three inches apart, or broadcast over the 

 surface of the ground. Cover lightly about one -fourth 

 of an inch deep. The boxes can then be put outside 

 in a protected, shady place, and left till the seeds ger- 

 minate. If the seeds are the product of crosses or 

 particularly choice selections, so that they need to be 

 kept pure, the flat should be covered with a fine screen 

 to prevent the possibility of birds dropping other 

 seeds into the same box, as might easily happen, 

 especially if the box has been placed "under trees to 

 secure the desired shade. The only attention required 

 from this time on is to see that the soil is not allowed 

 to dry out enough to injure the germinating power of 

 the seeds. Weeds should also be pulled out as they 

 appear. As soon as the plants are strong enough to 

 bear handling, they should be potted off or reset in 

 other flats, putting them two or three inches apart 

 each way. The flats or pots in which these young 

 plants are growing should be well plunged in the 

 soil to avoid drying out. This is of especial impor- 

 tance in getting the plants through the winter safely, 

 for lack of moisture in winter is as destructive to 

 plant life as lack of moisture in summer. After one 



