10 FAini-GAKDENING AND SEED-GROWING. 



a very common one, and serves to distinguish between 

 manuring broadcast, or at specified distances. Some 

 spread the manure broadcast over the land in the fall 

 and winter ; this plan, however, is practised mainly by 

 farmers, and is seldom resorted to by gardeners, who pre- 

 fer to cart out the manure the latter part of winter, place 

 it in large heaps near the point where it is to be used, and 

 cart on the land and spread it, immediately before 

 plowing. 



SOWING SEEDS. 



The proper distribution of seed in sowing is quite im- 

 portant, and there are few who can do it- just right. 

 Happily, machines have been invented for the purpose, 

 and many of them do the work more evenly than it can 

 possibly be done by hand. Some seeds, from their peculiar 

 formation, have to be sown by hand. It is a very difficult 

 matter to give directions for sowing seeds, and to say 

 how much is required to the acre. Much depends upon 

 the season, and also upon the freshness of the seed, and 

 even seed known to be new may be partly deficient in 

 germinating properties. 



The best rule is, when sowing in rows, to be governed 

 by the character of the seed and relative strength of the 

 young plants for instance, carrot, parsnip, and some 

 others have light seed, and the young plants are feeble. 

 Such should be sown thickly, and afterward be thinned 

 out, as directed under each separate head. 



Others plants such as cucumbers, melons, etc. are 

 liable to be attacked by bugs, and it is well to make 

 some allowance on this account. Most heavy seeds can 

 be sown thin, especially if broadcast, the chances being 

 that they will be too thick, especially if sown by inexpe- 

 rienced hands. Take, for instance, the seed of flat tur- 

 nip, one pound of which, in measure but little more 



