134 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



celery, are often merely pressed into the soil. A very 

 slight covering is sufficient for many seeds when the best 

 conditions are provided. The reader should consult the 

 chapter on the culture 'of the various classes of vege- 

 tables to obtain more definite information on the proper 

 depths for planting. 



195. Soaking seeds. — The soaking of seeds before sow- 

 ing is of doubtful value. It may be the means of hasten- 

 ing germination a few days, although sov/ing earlier will 

 accomplish the same purpose. When plants are killed 

 by frost and it becomes necessary to make another sow- 

 ing a slight gain will be made by soaking the seed. Most 

 growers, however, never soak any kind of seed before 

 sowing. 



196. Broadcasting or drilling. — Some crops may be 

 grown from seed sown broadcast, but this is impossible 

 with plants requiring frequent cultivation. Thousands 

 of farmers always broadcast turnip seed, while drilling 

 is a common practice among truckers and market gar- 

 deners. Broadcasting is not without merit. It may be 

 done very quickly, and the individual plant often has a 

 better chance for full development than when grown by 

 the drill method. This is particularly true with seedlings 

 that must be transplanted. Some growers of late cabbage 

 plants always broadcast the seed, because they claim that 

 the plants are stronger and stockier than plants grown 

 in drills without thinning. The same remarks apply to 

 lettuce, whether sown under glass or in the open. Most 

 of the arguments, however, are in favor of drilling, and 

 the advantages over broadcasting may be enumerated 

 as follows : ( I ) By sowing in drills it is possible to culti- 

 vate the soil. This is exceedingly important with prac- 

 tically all crops. (2) It is easier to thin when the plants 

 are in rows than when they are scattered. When 

 properly thinned they should be just as strong as when 

 grown from seed sown broadcast. (3) The seed is sown 



