14 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



on the surface, and cover it from about an eighth to a quarter 

 of an inch, according to the size of tlie seed, as before, with 

 the same sort of fine mould. But, if the seeds be of the 

 largest sorts, as, for instance, the nut or stone kind, no more 

 is necessary than to press them into the earth with the finger, 

 and to cover somewhat thicker than is recommended for the 

 others. In either case, the covering should be pressed mode- 

 rately on the seed with the hand, which is indeed a most 

 necessary caution in sowing seeds of any description whatever. 

 In order to insure the vegetation of hard or very tough shelled 

 seeds, some have them soaked in water for a few days, say a 

 week, or even ten days, for those which happen to be very 

 dry, previously to sowing : a shallow pan, placed on the 

 coolest part of the flue in the propagating-house, is the readiest 

 and safest article to receive them for this purpose ; they should 

 be examined daily, and sown the moment any swelling or 

 growth appears ; this process, however, is fraught with danger 

 to many of the lighter and smaller sorts. The sowing being 

 finished, the pots must be set on a level spot, and gently, but 

 thoroughly watered ^ith a pot ; the rose of which has been 

 made particularly fine, for this and other such uses, and im- 

 mediately plunged into a strong heat, without which, they will 

 not be likely to vegetate : if a close dung hot-bed the better. 

 A regular but moderate watering, steady heat, and occasional 

 weeding, should any weeds appear, is all that they will now 

 require till they be fit to be removed into separate pots ; which 

 may be done as soon as they have attained a few inches growth 

 above their colyledons, or seed-leaves. There are some fruits, 

 such as Nelumbium^ whose exterior coat is so very hard, that 

 the embryo plants are not able to burst through, at least with 

 us; to remedy which, the knife is not unfrequently used to 

 pare them thin, even to making a hole in them, but not 

 too near the eye or part where they sprout. If the business 

 of seed sowing be performed in spring, or early in summer, 

 the smaller sorts may be expected to vegetate in the course of 

 five or six weeks at farthest ; whereas the larger bony kinds will 

 sometimes remain dormant in the earth for the space perhaps of 

 twelve months; this must be attended to, else one might think 

 them beyond the chance of growing, and perhaps throw them 



