10 
BULLETIX 1327, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
GROWING FROM SEED 
The reproduction of these plants from seed is easily accomplished. 
Seed production, however, will seldom be resorted to in a species 
which reproduces vegetatively except in case the growers stock be- 
comes contaminated. 
Seeding should be done preferably in autumn or early spring. 
Any time from August 1 to November 1 gives good results on 
Paget Sound. Germination takes place in the spring even from 
August planting. In these experiments it was found most advan- 
tageous to put the seed in beds, because of the larger quantity which 
can be grown on a given area. Only handwork is applicable in 
handling seed and seedlings anyway. It is desirable to put the 
seed in thick, and this is accomplished, by using rows across the 
% 
**r 
Fig. 2. — Mv.scari oonicum bulb 
and bulblets grown in two 
years, from bulblets like the 
largest shown 
Fig. 3. — Mnsbitri arnica bulbs about 8 years 
old beginning to show deterioration and no 
reproduction. Upper right, the base of a 
bulb which is very large, showing- age. 
Lower right, a bulb split open. The other 
bulbs are ordinary normal specimens 
bed but 3 inches apart. About 100 to 150 seeds covered 1 to 1% 
inches deep are drilled in the row. On Puget Sound all seeding is done 
under open field conditions, but the preparation of the bed is very 
thorough. Care should be exercised not to walk on a seeded bed thus 
planted until the soil has been well settled by rains. If this pre- 
caution is not taken the seed stepped on is certain to be pushed down 
so far that it can not get through the soil when it germinates in 
the spring. 
In such a planting particular care should be taken to keep down 
all weeds until winter sets in, because the plants are small the 
first year, requiring hand weeding entirely in the spring after 
the seedlings are up, as is always the case with seedlings in frames. 
The burden of this weeding, although great for the area covered, is 
not severe when the quantity of material is considered. The beds 
