CULTURE UNDER GLASS 81 



depth of about one inch. This raking will 

 make a fine soil mulch on the top, which 

 conserves the moisture, besides keeping 

 the soil cool, a condition necessary for suc- 

 cessful germination. Under these condi- 

 tions no watering will be necessary for at 

 least ten days or as long as moisture may 

 be found about four inches below the sur- 

 face. Sometimes three weeks elapse be- 

 fore it becomes necessary to water the beds. 

 This method encourages the seeds to send 

 their roots deep into the soil in the direc- 

 tion of more water. Plants with deep 

 roots can withstand the hottest days with- 

 out damping off, a condition which often 

 follows when the moisture is kept on the 

 surface. If the soil becomes too dry after 

 a while, water well down to the base, keep- 

 ing the surface well worked. After sow- 

 ing, the temperature should be kept as low 

 as possible; and if the seed is sown in 



