132 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



rt is always better to sow after rain rather than before, 

 and this is especially true in the heavier soils. The soil 

 soon bakes after a rain, and a hard surface crust is fatal 

 to the germination of delicate seeds. Such crusts ex- 

 clude air, and thus prevent the necessary physical and 

 chemical changes in the soil, and make it difficult for the 

 tiny plant to force its way through the soil to the light. 

 If heavy rains fall soon after sowing, the crust can often 

 be broken to advantage by rolling as soon as the ground 

 is dry enough. It is usually desirable to sow in freshly 

 stirred soil, because of better moisture conditions. 



192. Quantity of seed to sow. — Many questions must 

 be taken into account when determining the , proper 

 amount of seed to use on a given area. Among them 

 may oe mentioned: (i) The viability of the seed or i'ts 

 power to grow. This should be previously determined, 

 and the rate of sowing regulated accordingly. (2) The 

 date of sowing. It may pay to take chances in planting 

 some crops, as beans and sweet corn, before the ground 

 is warm enough to make certain of a high percentage of 

 germination. By using seed freely a good stand may be 

 secured (3) The physical character of the soil. More 

 seed should be used in heavy soils, because the percent- 

 age of germination will be necessarily less than in light 

 soils. (4) The size or vigor of the young plants. Carrot 

 and parsnip seedlings are very delicate and feeble; and 

 many may be lost before they are well started. There- 

 fore the safe practice is to insure a good stand by heavy 

 seeding. (5) If to be transplanted, the time when this 

 work will be done should be considered. The seed may 

 be sown much more freely if transplanting is to occur in 

 about three weeks from sowing. (6) The demand of the 

 market. At times the market may demand small carrots, 

 onions and other products, or exactly the reverse, and 

 sowing must be regulated accordingly. (7) It is rather 

 expensive to thin some crops. For example, the thinning 



