Seed-Beds. 15 
and levelling the soil down. The seed ought to be 
planted at least 4x4: inches, or even farther than 
this apart. But the great difficulty in the hills 
is to geta ny fairly level land, and 6 x 6 takes up 
so much room, that itis very hard to find land 
to plant any large amount of seed. If the seed 
is planted too closely, the plant comes up a 
miserably weak, whippy, seedling, and is very often 
scarcely worth putting out. Whereas, if the seed- 
lings ave a fair distance apart, they get good strong 
healthy stems, and are always a success, On 
many gardens, seed is planted broadcast, and the 
worst seedlings weeded out, but this is a bad 
plan, Always choose good soil for your seed- 
beds, but it is not necessary to manure it. Earth 
from the roots of Bamboo clumps may be added, or if 
the soil is too heavy, a little sand mixed with it, 
Ina seed-bed, made on a flat, where cattle had 
been standing, not a seedling lived, as everyone was 
eaten off by Koomlas (cockchafer grub), In many 7 
cases the beds are shaded during the cold weather 
with sun-grass or mats. ‘Chis saves labour in water- 
ing, but all shade should be taken off by April, and 
