76 



where they can be regularly attended, as to 

 watering and weeding. Watering they will 

 require at least once a day, in a greater or less 

 degree ; for if they are not kept properly moist, 

 the seeds will not by any means vegetate free- 

 ly, if at all ; however, the other extreme is to be 

 studiously avoided. The weeds should be re- 

 gularly pulled out before they attain any size ; 

 else, besides the top smothering the young ' 

 seedlings, which may have started, the roots, 

 in getting them out afterwards, not only disturb 

 them, but also the remaining seeds that may 

 be perhaps on the point of bursting their em- 

 bryo; by which means, it not unfrequently 

 happens in places where this strict attention is 

 not paid, that the greater part of the crop is 

 thereby destroyed. 



As the spring advances, it will be necessary 

 to lay a few sheets of strong paper over the 

 pots, for two, or three hours in the middle of 

 the day, if the weather happens to be clear, and 

 the sun acts forcibly on them ; particularly 

 those in which the finer seeds are sown, in 

 order to prevent the surface getting over dry, 

 and powder like ; or otherwise, if the mould 

 happens to be pretty moist, it is liable to form 



