SOWING OF DELICATE SEEDS. 31 



Seeds of aquatic plants, which are to be sown in a pond, 

 may be placed in a ball of clay and dropped into the water. 

 Water lily seeds may be sown in the greenhouse in sub- 

 merged pots or pans. 



Shallow boxes or "flats" and earthen seed-pans and 

 lily-pans are usually preferable to pots in which to sow 

 seeds. They give more surface in proportion to their 

 contents, and require less attention to drainage. If pots 

 are used, the 4 to 6-inch sizes are best. All delicate 

 seeds, like tuberous begonias, primulas, gloxinias, and 

 also spores, are generally sown in pots or pans, which 

 are covered with a pane of glass. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) 



If delicate seeds are sown outdoors, they should be given 

 some protection, if possible. An ordinary hotbed frame 

 gives the best results. In warm weather or a sunny expo- 

 sure it will be found desirable to substitute a cloth screen for 

 the sash. A thin or medium water-proof plant-cloth, either 

 commercial or home-made, is excellent for this purpose. It 

 may be tacked upon a simple and light rectangular frame 

 which is strengthened at the corners by iron "carriage- 

 corners." These cloth-covered frames are handy for many 

 purposes, particularly for protecting and supplying some 

 warmth to seed-pans and young seedlings. 



It is essential that good drainage be given all indoor 

 seed-pots or seed-beds. A layer of broken pots or other 

 coarse material is placed on the bottom. Many growers 

 place a thin layer of fine dead sphagnum moss or of peat 

 over this drainage material, and it is useful in preventing the 

 too rapid drying out of the bottom of the pots. It is particu- 

 larly useful in isolated pots or small boxes. Over the moss, 

 coarse siftings from the soil may be placed, while on top only 

 the finest and best soil should be used. The smaller the 

 seeds, the more care must be exercised in the sowing. 



The proper depth for sowing varies directly with the size 



of the seed. The chief advantage of very fine soil for small 



seeds is the greater exactness of depth of covering which it 



allows. Very small seeds should be sown upon the surface, 



c 



