272 NATURE-STUDY 



by forcing seedlings in the house, cold-frame, or hot-bed, 

 some flowers, etc., may be had by the close of school. 



For home and vacation gardens early varieties should be 

 chosen as well as late, so as to furnish flowers and vegetables 

 all through the season. By successive plantings at intervals 

 of several weeks several crops can be had. 



How TO Plant and Sow: If the directions for sowing 

 are not upon seed packets for each pupil, give very careful 

 instructions. The soil should be well pulverized. Lines 

 should be drawn straight across the bed, and furrows 

 made with the hand or the end of the hoe or rake handle. 

 'Do not make the furrows too deep. Seeds may be buried 

 so deep that they cannot reach the surface. In general, 

 they should be planted at a depth equal to about three or 

 four times their thickness. Peas should be covered extra 

 deep, three or four inches. But the very small seed should 

 be simply sown on the surface and lightly sifted over 

 with fine soil, or washed in with a very fine spray of water. 

 This applies to such seeds as petunia, portulaca, and poppy. 

 Many seeds are benefited by a preliminary soaking over 

 night to hasten their germination. It is also a good thing 

 to firm the soil or press it tightly about the seeds. After 

 they are planted they need to be kept moist till they have 

 sprouted and have made a good start. Seeds will not ger- 

 minate in dry soil, so water regularly and thoroughly. 

 Do not sow too thickly, but fairly thin and evenly. Where 

 a few plants only are to be desired in a row or hill, it is well 

 to put in a few extra seeds to make up for those that will not 

 germinate. They can be thinned out later if not needed. 

 Beware of old seeds. Some seeds will germinate when several 

 years old, but most of them lose their vitality rapidly after the 



