PROPAGATION BY MEANS OF SEEDS AND SPORES 15 



be sown outdoors until the soil has become rather dry and 

 warm. The soaking of seeds should always be regarded as a 

 special practice, to be employed with caution. 



Direct exceptions to these cautions against over-watering 

 are provided by the seeds of the aquatic plants, as water-lilies 

 and wild rice (zizania). Such seeds are usually placed in balls 

 or pots of earth and then immersed in water, where germina- 

 tion takes place. 



To prevent too rapid drying out in ordinary seed-sowing, the 

 earth should be firmly pressed about the seeds. The pot or box 

 should be given a 

 shady place, or cover- 

 ing may be applied 

 to check evapora- 

 tion. A pane of 

 glass is often placed 

 over the pot (Fig. 4) 

 or box, being tilted FlGi 4> 

 a little at intervals to 

 allow of ventilation and to prevent the earth from becoming soggy 

 or "sour." A seed-case, with a glass cover, as shown in Fig. 4, 

 is neat and handy in the treatment of small seeds. A thin 

 covering of fine moss is sometimes applied, or a newspaper may 

 be thrown over the pots or boxes. The seed-boxes should be 

 protected from strong direct sunshine. 



For the careful growing of special plants, the bell-glass 

 (Fig. 5) is most satisfactory, although relatively little known 

 in this country. It is useful also in the rearings of cuttings. 



In outdoor culture, only a naturally dry and well-drained 

 soil should be chosen for ordinary seeds, especially for such as 

 are sown in autumn or remain in the ground a long time before 

 germinating. Soils that contain a liberal amount of sand or 

 gravel are specially valuable for this purpose. 



To prevent drying in outdoor operations, it is important that 



Seed-pot, covered with glass ; also a glass- 

 covered seed-case. 



