How to Grow Plants from Seeds r73 
against the seeds, so that 
the soil water can pass 
into them and the first 
roots of the little plants 
can readily come into 
contact with the soil. 
It also increases the 
amount of water in a 
given volume of the soil 
by pressing the soil parti- 
cles closer together, thus 
reducing the air space. 
A sandy soil or a dry, 
loose soil should be 
firmed by walking slowly 
along the row of planted 
and covered seeds, tread- 
ing the soil with the ball 
of the foot but not with 
theheel. Aloam should 
be firmed in the same 
way when it is dry. If 
Fic. 99. Covering the seeds. Fine soil 
should be drawn carefully and evenly over 
the row. 
a soil is moist, light strokes with the back of the hoe 
will press it down sufficiently under most circumstances. 
When very dry, a clay soil may thus be firmed with 
the hoe; but firming down a moist clay soil in any 
manner will make it too compact. 
After the firming, fine dust from between the rows 
should be lightly raked over the planted row. This 
leaves a thin layer of dust mulch over the compacted or 
firmed soil. 
