important that the soil should not be wet. Natural soil 

 from a dryish and loamy pasture is excellent. In some 

 cases it is better to sprout the seeds in the native country 

 and ship the seedlings in a closed or Wardian case. 



Sowing. — The soil in which seeds are sown, -=;3peciaiiy 

 in indoor culture, should be such as to allow of perfect drain- 

 age and at the same time to hold moisture. Good potting 

 soil, with a liberal allowance of sharp sand, is the best for 

 general purposes. Pure sand becomes too dense, and leaf 

 mold alone is usually too loose and open. A proper combi- 

 nation of the two corrects both faults. It is impossible to 

 describe a good potting or seed-bed soil. Some experience 

 is essential to the best results in preparing it. It should be 

 of such character that when a damp portion is firmly com- 

 pressed in the hand it will fall apart when released. It 

 should never bake. Good old garden loam, to which an 

 equal quantity of sand has been added, is usually a good soil 

 for common indoor seedage. There should be no manure 

 in soil used for seeds which produce a delicate growth, as 

 rhododendrons and kalmias. In all such cases, rotted sod 

 or leafy peat is an excellent medium. Live sphagnum moss 

 is also a good material upon which to sow various heath-like 

 seeds, as kalmias, andromedas, and the like. Soil should 

 be sifted and thoroughly fined before seeds are put into it. 

 Seeds usually require lighter soil than that in which the 

 growing plant will flourish. Cocoanut fiber is sometimes 

 used in place of the soil, as it holds moisture, allows of 

 almost perfect drainage, and does not become "sour." 

 Fine dead sphagnum moss may also be used. Orchid seeds 

 are usually sown on the live moss in which the parent plant 

 is growing ; or they may be sown on damp wood or cork. 

 (See under Orchids, Chap. VI. ) Small seeds, like those of 

 cineraria and calceolaria, germinate well in very old cow- 

 dung obtained from a pasture, from which the unctuous 

 matters have disappeared, leaving a fibrous remainder. 

 But all things considered, well-prepared soil is the most 

 satisfactory medium which can be used for most seeds. 



