water, which will have the effect of washing it partially into the soil. In 
application of water, some degree of care is absolutely necessary to prevent its 
washing the seeds over the top of the pot; therefore, avoid giving more than 
is needful to just cover the surface. Seeds of the size of a pin’s head require 
to be barely covered with fine soil, whilst those a size larger need to be quite 
covered ; but in no instance ought the larger seeds to be buried deeper than 
an eighth of an inch. Palm, castor-oil, or canna seeds are an exception • 
these should be placed at least an inch below the surface. Primula seeds, 
again, require different treatment. It is not advisable to cover these 
with soil, although a little fine cocoa-nut fibre refuse may be beneficially 
sprinkled among them to assist in keeping their surroundings in a moist 
condition. 
The next step to take after sowing is that of giving the seed such after 
treatment as will induce them to germinate satisfactorily. Heat, air, and 
moisture are important factors in this part of the business. Heat is 
necessary to arouse the dormant vital forces or protoplasm of the seed into 
activity • moisture to soften the outer part or integument of the seed, so that 
air may pass in the form of oxygen to combine with the carbon of the 
albumen, and thus enable the chemical changes to be carried out which 
nature demands. 
Seeds in general will not germinate in a lower temperature than 32 deg., 
or a higher one than 100 deg. Those of hardy plants should be sown when 
the temperature is not likely to fall lower than 40 deg. • half-hardy plants 55 to 
65 deg. ; and all others 75 to 85 deg. In the latter category are included palm 
and stove plants, seeds which, as a rule, fail to germinate in less heat than 
we have stated above. Half-hardy plants embrace all those tender subjects 
grown for flowering in greenhouses, and for summer bedding. These can 
be raised in the portable propagators (Figs. 5 and 7), such apparatus 
being capable of being heated to a temperature of 55 to 65 deg. with 
very little trouble, the plunging material being, perhaps, five to ten degrees 
higher. 
Moisture is most essential, and must be supplied in such a way that the 
seeds can have all they require without running the risk of receiving too 
much, and thus destroying their vitality. Seed pots, pans, or boxes should 
therefore be plunged to their full depth in cocoa-nut fibre refuse or sawdust, 
whether they be in a portable propagator, or in the greenhouse, frame, or 
window. Treated thus, dry air cannot penetrate the sides and extract the 
