SOWING. 181 



and which, if kept damp and shaded from the mid-day 

 sun, will succeed better than if covered ever so care- 

 fully. 



Almost all seeds require a well consolidated bed 

 after being- well ploughed or digged, wheat and pulse 

 particularly ; and this for two reasons : first because 

 the seeds are equally affected by the close contact 

 of the medium in which they are laid, germinate 

 more regularly, and take a firmer hold of the soil ; 

 and secondly, because seed-weeds are less likely to 

 rise in a compact surface, than in one which is loose, 

 nor can slugs or grubs work their way so well irr* 

 a close surface. Hence the use of rollers, pressers, 

 and treading loose ground with sheep among farmers, 

 and the practice of treading in seed by the gardener. 

 These are rules both in agriculture and horticulture ; 

 at the same time, cultivators are aware that a fine, 

 light, and dry soil is particularly favourable to the 

 germination of some small seeds, more especially 

 those of charlock (Sinapis arvensis) and common 

 poppy (Papaver rhceds). 



Seeds in general are cast naked from capsules and 

 glumes. The baccifera, pomifera, and drupiferous 

 kinds undergo a preparation amidst the decaying 

 pulpy coat with which they are surrounded. Those of 

 the Coniferce do not escape from the woody strobile, 

 till the scales enclosing them are opened by the sum- 

 mer sun of the next year after they are ripe ; and if the 

 cones are gathered, as they should be, before the seeds 

 are shed, it requires some labour to split, kiln-dry, 



