apart I feel they are entitled to. When sowing very tiny seed in 

 beds or borders (such as Portulaca, Poppy, etc.^, I thoroughly mix 

 one teaspoonful of seed in an ordinary quart kitchen flour dredger, 

 about one-half full of fine, dry, sharp sand (be sure the sand is 

 really dry) and sow direct from the dredger. 



After sowing in flats, stretch a piece of cheese cloth over the 

 fiat and water gently through it, so not to disturb or wash out the 

 seeds. 



When sowing seeds directly in a bed, after they are sown, I 

 gently shake sifted earth over them, also with a dredger, then 

 lightly tamp the fine soil down upon them. I enjoy using my 

 "tamper" which is nothing more than the tool a plasterer uses to 

 float (I am told that is the proper term) the finishing coat of plas- 

 ter on a ceiling. It is very light, it is made of wood with a cork 

 surface, and I believe it can be obtained at any good hardware shop 

 where mechanics' tools are sold. 



STEEPING SEEDS IN WATER TO HASTEN 

 GERMINATION 



I steep all hard seed in water in which I mix a good pinch of 

 carbonate of soda (not bi-carbonate) before planting, as I find it 

 hastens their germination. Let them remain in their softening 

 bath until they can be slightly depressed by squeezing between the 

 finger tips, then they are ready to plant, and they will usually ger- 

 minate at once. Some very hard seeds like Sweet Peas and the 

 Ricinus I have sometimes had to leave in water for almost two days. 



To sow all but the very small seed, I use a piece of shade stick 

 about twelve inches long. By pressing it against the earth it makes 

 a miniature trench and all I have to do is to place the seed the 

 required distance apart in the little trench and replace the earth 

 my shade stick has hilled up. This makes the pressing in of the 

 larger seed very easily and quickly done, and means that thousands 

 may be started with very little effort. When the seed have been 

 sown in the beds the beds should be watered with a very soft, fine 

 spray so not to wash the earth away. We must remember not to 



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