40 MAKING OF A FLOWER GARDEN 



surface of the soil, pressed down but not covered, un- 

 less with a light sifting of fine white sand, scarcely 

 enough to cover the ground. Sand is better than soil 

 for this purpose as it reacts against the tendency to 

 produce the damping off fungus so troublesome in 

 house culture. 



Larger seed may be covered with a light layer of 

 soil, still larger planted in drills and covered once 

 their width in depth. 



All flats or sections of seeds should be carefully 

 labeled with name and date of sowing. After the 

 seed is planted the small flats should be set in a pan 

 of luke-warm water until the surface appears dark 

 but not wet ; the larger flats may be watered with a 

 fine-rose or a rubber sprinkler, taking care not to 

 wash the seeds loose from the soil. Cover the flats 

 with white paper, over which lay a glass and give a 

 position of as uniform heat as possible. No light will 

 be needed until the seeds have germinated when the 

 plants may be removed to a warm, light window and 

 the paper removed, but placed between the box and 

 the window glass, and the glass slightly raised, in- 

 creasing the light and air as the plants will bear it. 

 A width of cheese cloth stretched across the window 

 will temper the light sufficiently for most plants. 



Plants grown in flats in the house require rather 

 more attention than in a hotbed, as they are more 

 tender, lacking the bracing out-door air. If the win- 



