PROPAGATION BY MEANS OF SEEDS AND SPORES 49 



localities it is difficult to procure turfy loam, but every endeavor to do so 

 should be made, as there is no good substitute. With leaf-soil it is different. 

 Cocoanut fiber refuse or hop manure may well take its place. Having placed 

 the drainage and soil in position, as shown in Fig. 28, press the whole 

 down gently with the presser shown at the right of Fig. 29. The edge of 

 this is useful for making lines when it is desired to sow the seed in rows. 



"If there is one thing more than any other that the beginner needs 

 warning against, it is thick sowing. No matter how often this warning 

 is given, it is seldom fully ac- 

 cepted, and thousands of seed- 

 lings are wasted every spring by 

 too thick sowing. Seeds differ 

 very considerably in size, and it 

 is not difficult to place the large 

 ones separately, as is shown at 

 the right of Fig. 29. Very small 

 seeds are difficult for the begin- 

 ner, who may be excused for 

 sowing them too thickly. As an 

 aid to the thin sowing of these 

 small seeds, mix them with some 

 dry silver sand, as shown at the 

 left of Fig. 29. This will make 

 a greater bulk and, if the mixing 

 is well done, will insure a thin 

 and even distribution. 



''After the seed is sown it 

 must be covered. Here, again, there is a great deal of difference to be ob- 

 served. Thus, very small seed will only need pressing into the soil with 

 the presser shown in Fig. 29 ; while larger seed will need a quarter of an inch 

 thick covering of fine soil. The larger the seed the greater the depth of 

 soil for covering, is a good general rule to follow. Do not press down the 

 covering soil except just to make it level, and it is well to have rather more 

 sand in it than is used for the mixture previously advised for sowing. 



"It is no uncommon occurrence to find choice seed that has been care- 

 fully sown washed out of the seed-pans or boxes during the process of 

 watering, or, if not actually washed out, carried all to one side, owing to 

 the receptacle not standing level. Therefore, stand all seed-pans, boxes 

 or pots as level as possible and use a fine rose on the watering-can. For 

 very small seeds a sheet of paper, freely perforated with holes, as shown 

 in Fig. 30, may be laid over the soil before watering, or a piece of coarse 

 E 



FIG. 30. Watering small seeds through a 

 perforated paper. A coarse muslin may 

 also be used for protection. 



