SEED-SOWING AND TRANSPLANTING 97 



As to the depth at which seed should be sown, much 

 depends on the variety, as also on the nature of the soil 

 and the season of the year; but it may be taken as a 

 general rule that small seeds should be covered by a 

 depth of soil about equal to their thickness, whilst 

 seeds such as sweet peas should be sown two inches 

 deep. The soil must not be allowed to become quite 

 dry, but great care is to be taken in watering, which 

 should be done, when necessary, with a watering-pot 

 provided with a very fine rose. Those perennials, such 

 as the columbines, campanulas, poppies, and primroses, 

 which are easily to be raised from seed, may be sown 

 in open beds, but, as they are somewhat slower in 

 germinating, it will usually be found more satisfactory 

 to sow them in shallow earthenware pans containing a 

 mixture of loam, sand and leaf-mould. The soil in the 

 pans can best be kept moist by occasionally dipping the 

 seed-pan in a vessel of water, being very careful not to 

 lower it so that the surface of the soil is below the 

 surface of the water. A sheet of glass may be placed 

 as a cover to the seed-pan until germination takes place ; 

 but, in order to check evaporation from the surface, care 

 should be taken not to " damp off" the young seedlings 

 through excessive moisture and insufficient air. 



There is one great rule to be borne in mind in sowing 

 all kinds of seed, and that rule, printed in largest type, 

 should be placed wherever gardeners are to be found : — 

 SOW THINLY. Do not rely too much on subsequent 

 thinning out, but allow space for development from the 

 first, for at no stage of its career should a young plant 

 be pressed upon by its neighbour. A knowledge of the 

 size and habit of the mature plant is therefore necessary 

 in order to estimate the requisite space between the seeds. 

 It must, however, be remembered that a certain propor- 

 tion of seeds will fail to germinate, and that a certain 

 proportion of seedlings will fall victims to disease and 



