SEEDS 



well in full sunlight or partial shade, and that the 

 best soil for them is a moderately rich loam. 



I prefer to plant the seeds of all annuals where 

 the flowers are to bloom. Some species cannot 

 be transplanted at all, and it is injurious to all of 

 them, as it takes most plants some days or even 

 a couple of weeks to recover and get well rooted 

 once more. Having prepared the bed, I sow 

 very small seed, such as the Poppy, broad-cast, 

 and then press the earth down with a board or 

 the hand. A convenient board can be made 

 for this work very easily by any one moderately 

 skilled in carpentry. Take a half-inch pine 

 board, about eighteen inches long by nine wide, 

 and cut the corners off smoothly, so that it takes 

 the form of an ellipse. On the centre of one side 

 screw a wooden handle, and your "firmer" is 

 ready. With seeds a little larger than the 

 poppy, such as annual Larkspur or Eschscholtziuy 

 after casting them evenly upon the bed, I go 

 over the whole with the back of the rake, gently 

 pulling a little earth over the seeds, and then 

 pressing the whole down. Larger seeds still 

 must be planted in drills, but caution must be 

 exercised so as not to plant too deeply. More 

 good seeds fail to germinate from this cause, 



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