48 SEED AND ITS NEEDS 



because it contains neither life nor humus and tends to make 

 a dead soil. If, however, the soil is too light a clay or a heavy 

 loam may be added. 



The physical properties of the soil should be such as not to 

 pack, and this can be easily determined by taking a small 

 portion in the hand and firmly squeezing it. If the soil 

 falls apart it has about the right amount of water; if it is 

 compact it is either too wet or too heavy for the planting of 

 seed and the best results will not be obtained. A small 

 amount of plant food is an advantage although not a necessity 

 at this stage of growth. The soil for the seed-bed should be 

 free from an excessive amount of moisture, the larvae of 

 injurious insects, and as free as possible from foreign weed 

 seed. 



Fig. 10. — A wooden marker to regulate the depth for planting seed. 



The freezing of the soil will rid it of many of the injurious 

 animal organisms and at the same time will put it in a better 

 physical condition. Whenever it is possible it will be highly 

 advantageous to subject the soil to repeated freezings and 

 thawings before using it in the seed-boxes. 



Depth of Planting. — Seed are covered with soil to secure 

 an intimate contact with the .moist earth. Care should be 

 exercised in not excluding the air because that would be highly 

 injurious to the seed. The proper depth must always be 

 judged by the gardener and is determined largely by the size 

 of the seed and the nature of the soil. It is apparent, however, 

 that the small, delicate seed, whose powers of germination 



