24 



J. STECKIvER SEED CO., I/fD., ALMANAC AND 



covering all kinds of seeds a fork i3 preferable to a rake; with either implement care 

 must be taken not to cover the seeds too deep. Beans, Peas and Corn are covered with 

 the hoe. Some fine seeds, such as Thyme and Tobacco, are covered enough when 

 pressed with the back of tue spade to the ground. The seedsman is often blamed for 

 selling seeds which have not come up when the same are perfectly good, but, perhaps, 

 through ignorance, the party by whom they were sown placed them too deep or too 

 shallow in the ground, or- the ground may have been just moist enough to swell the seeds 

 and they failed to come up. At other times washing rains after sowing beat the ground 

 and form a crust that the seeds are not able to penetrate, or if there is too much manure 

 it will burn the seeds and destroy their vitality. 



When seeds, such as Beans, Cucumbers, Melons and Squash, are planted before it is 

 warm enough, they are very aptrto rot if it raius. 



Oo3?:o3.irao.1:ira|>; Seeds. 



Complaints are often made to seedsmen by inexperienced Truck farmers and Plautcrs, 

 that certain varieties of garden and field seeds are slow in coming up or fail entirely. 

 The fault, as a geueral rule is mostly the gardeners, but the seedsman invariably gets 

 the blame, mostly unjust and groundless, but he is blamed and often abused nevertheless. 

 For the guidance of those which are inexperienced we deem it necessary to lay down 

 the following rules: 



1. Never sow out of time. Many of our Truck farmers are in the habit of sowing too 

 soon and in consequence are ofteu compelled to sow double the quantity to get a good 

 stand. As to the proper time for sowing read our directions for planting. 



2. Do not cover seeds too deep, it will be impossible for the finer varieties to push 

 through, especially if the soil is heavy and claylike. The rule, is never to cover seeds 

 more than twice their thickness except the finer ones which require no covering at all. 

 They should be slightly pressed in the ground to prevent their being washed away. 



Beans, Peas and Corn should be covered from % t0 % iDca according to the nature of 

 the soil. 



3. Keep your seed beds moist but not too wet. Water in eveniug and during extremely 

 dry weather twice a day or ofteuer if required. Tender seeds, such as Celery, Onions, 

 Leek and Cauliflower may be shaded during the nottest part of the day,*they have to be 

 uncovered in the evening while the sun is still on the bed, well watered and left 

 uncovered during the uight. During cloudy weather no covering is needed, nor should 

 they be covered when they are up, otherwise the young plants become too tender and* 

 damp off. 



4. Previous to planting have your seed beds well prepared; have the soil well pul- 

 verized and mellow, but not too fine; otherwise a crust will form, owing to constant 

 watering, on the surface, which prevents the tender germ from pushing through. 



5. Never use fresh manure in the seed bed, if any is needed use well rotted Horse, or 

 in light sandy soil Cow manure and incorporate it well with the soil before sowing theseed. 



Approximate Time for certain Varieties of Seed to Germinate. 



tirely upon the weather and the treatment 

 as much as we know by experience, the 



The time for seed to germinate depends en 

 of the seed bed; we will try though to give 

 approximate time for germinating. 



Artichokes from 14 to 21 days. 



Asparagus from 20 to 30 days. 



Beans from 5 to 10 days. 



Beets from 10 to 20 days. 



Borecole, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cab- 

 bage and Cauliflower from 5 to 12 days. 



Carrots from 14 to 21 days, and ofteu longer 

 during dry weather. 



Celery from 14 to 20 days. 



Chervil from 18 to 23 days. 



Collards from 5 to 12 days. 



Corn Salad 14 days. 



Corn from 8 to 14 days. 



Cress, curled from 3 to 5 days. 



Cress, broadleaved from 5 to 12 days. 



Cress, water from 12 to 14 days. 



Cucumbers from 5 to ]0 days. 



Eggplants from 8 to 20 days. 



Endive from 3 to 7 days. 



Kohlrabi from 5 to 12 days. 



Lettuce from 3 to 5 days. 



Melons, Cantelopes from 5 to 10 days. 



Melons, water from 8 to 15 days. 



Mustard from 3 to 7 days. 



Okra from 8 to 15 days. 



Onions from 7 to 14 days. 



Parsley from 20 to 30 days. 



Parsnip from 8 to 14 days. 



Peas from 5 to 10 days. 



Pepper from 8 to 20 days. 



Pumpkin from 5 to 10 days. 



Radish from 3 to 5 days. 



Roquette from 5 to 10 days. 



Salsify from 8 to 14 days. 



Sorrel from S to 14 days. 



Spinach from 8 to 14 days. 



Squash from 5 to 10 days. 



Tomatoes from 5 to 15 days. 



Turnip from 3 to 5 days. 



