Seed-sowing Hints 57 



Baising from Seeds — This, as we have said, is 

 Nature's own way, although we think the gardener 

 does not fully realise its importance. A solitary cap- 

 sule (seed vessel) may contain a score or twice that 

 number of fertile seeds, and a dozen such may contain 

 several hundreds. Top often these are disregarded 

 and wasted, whereas a tithe of them in the seedling 

 plant form would be sufficient to make a goodly group. 

 The seeds of many alpines are small, others minute, 

 and none of them require deep coverings of soil. Some 

 prefer none at all, or at least very fine sand of not 

 more than a shilling thickness. Where soil is used 

 with the sand the whole should be baked to destroy 

 weed seeds and insect life. It would be better if the 

 whole of the soil used were treated in this way. Every- 

 thing — ^pots and potsherds — should be scrupulously 

 clean. Half fill the pots with the latter, cover with 

 moss, and finally fill to within one inch of the rim with 

 finely sifted, very sandy soil. Cover with very fine 

 sand and make the surface quite even. Soak with 

 water and allow the pots to remain an hour or two 

 before sowing the seeds. 



Time to Sow. — Generally the seeds should be sown 

 in autumn or winter so that, vegetating in early spring- 

 time, there remains a full growing season ahead for 

 development. This is most important. Not a few 

 seedling alpines may be raised on a firm bed of cool, 

 moist sphagnum moss with exposure, but they resent 

 conserved or stagnant moisture about them. Seeds of a 

 large number of alpines may also be successfully raised 

 in finely sifted cocoa-nut fibre and sand in equal parts. 

 While of great value in the case of seeds of quick 

 germination, it is equally so in those of an opposite 

 nature — a sort of panacea indeed for soil sourness, 

 moss, and that much-to-be-dreaded pest of the seed 

 pot, the "Liverwort" (Marchantia polymorpha). 

 Overhead watering is also harmful. Stand the seed 

 pots in deep saucers and water them from below. 

 Cover each pot with a sheet of glass to keep off 



