2178 FOBEST TEEES. 



materials should be sifted througli a wire-gauze 

 sieve. The bed should be raised 4 inches above, 

 the ground, and the surface made perfectly level and 

 smooth. ' 



" On the top of this layer 1 inch in thickness of 

 stable manure and river sand, in equal proportions, 

 should be sifted, and over that a layer ^ inch in 

 thickness of brick or tile dust also sifted. The dried' 

 fruit should now be rubbed to powder between the 

 hands, and then sifted and sown thickly over the 

 brick dust. After sowing the seed, a flat, smooth 

 piece of board should be gently pressed all over the 

 bed, the surface of which should be in this manner 

 made as level and smooth as the surface of a 

 billiard table. 



" The bed having been prepared and seed sown, 

 it should be watered. A small garden engine should 

 be stationed close to the bed, and a very fine spray 

 must: be allowed to fall gently over the bed till it is 

 well moistened. This <6L3f- be done by placing, the 

 thumb of the left hand over the muzzle of the deli- 

 very pipe of the engiue. It is essential that none of 

 the seed, whiph all lies on the surface, should be 

 washed away. A sheet of galvanised iron, or any 

 efiicient substitute, should, now be placed about 

 6 inches above the bed, so that no raia "w^ater may 

 fall upon or iujure the surface of the bed, which 

 must be kept always damp, and in dry weathei^ three 

 or even four waterings a day may be necessary. . 



" In about 10 days the young seed should geraii- 

 nate freely, and it will be necessary to admit sun- 

 light from three to six hours daily. In cloudy 

 weather the young plants may be exposed freely all 

 day, and a very light drizzle will not hurt thenx ; 

 but, if the upper surface of the bed is once allowed 

 to dry, or is broken up by the heavy rain, the young 

 plants will perish. The gardener in charge, wHo. 



