OF PROPAGATION* 



SECT. W 



the feet, for when the foil is too wet, it binds and 

 does harm, efpecially heavy ground; thus in this work, 

 and every other in the way of gardening, there is a 

 nicety of time to be obferved, by thofe who would do 

 their bufinefs well. It is to be obferved, however, 

 that fowing in drills or on beds that are not to be 

 trampled, the moifture of the ground is rather an 

 advantage, provided, in the laft cafe, that the ground 

 will admit a rake, and the foil is not too wet to - drop 

 fomewhat loofely about the feeds. 



The proper depth at which feed mould be fown, is 

 to be carefully obferved: if too deep, they will either 

 rot, or not vegetate, or thrive well ; and if too (hallow, 

 they are liable to be injurioufly affe&ed by froft, wind, 

 drought, or birds; but of the two, rather too mallow, 

 than too deep, is belt, and this we are taught by 

 nature whole fowings are moftlv fuperScial. 



The fmaller the feed, the finer mould the foil- be, and 

 the iefs alio the covering; fo that, while Tome, (as the 

 feed of celery is to he but barely covered, others as 

 peas and beans) may have a depth of two, three, or 

 lour inches. But fome regard is to be had to idtfeafon 

 and foil;— m a warm feafon, and light foil, fow deeper, 

 and the contrary fhallower. 



The quantity, of feed fown, is a thing to be attended 

 to with fome exatinefs. Small feeds, go a great way, 

 and require a careful hand to- diftribute' them ; for 

 though fowing a little too much be a trifle as to the 

 value of feeds, yet to have them come up crowding thick 

 is ui evil. To Cow evenh as to quantity, is an object 

 of practice worthy of care, as it iecure* a better crop, 

 and more eafily managed in the thinning. If the leed 

 is fufpected^ fow thicker; poor land will require more 

 feed than rich. 



It is not generally advifable to fow feveral forts of 

 feed on the fame Ipot, as fome perfons are accuftomed 

 to do. The gardeners about London follow the practice; 

 as profit is their great object, and not neatnefs or pro- 

 priety. 



