io8 
JAMES VICK’S SONS, ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
Hi/nts o/n Sowi/ng Seeds a/nd Tra/nspla/nti/ng. 
Seed Sowing, Transplanting, and Care of Young Plants. 
Hot-Beds. 
Every child knows how easily and quickly the plants will spring* up 
when h<; puts ft lew beans or kernels of corn or some pumpkin or squash 
seeds into t he ground. Why then do we hear so much complaint from 
people that their seeds do not grow? In not one such case of complaint 
in a hundred is there anything the matter of the seeds. What is, then, 
the trouble? Well the truth must be told: it is with the people them¬ 
selves—they do not know how to sow and care for the seeds. A child 
plants a lew beans in the garden and in two or three days they are up. 
Children imitate older people, and they do not commence their garden¬ 
ing until they have seen others do it; so it happens that when they try 
their skill the season is somewhat advanced, and the ground is warm, and 
the conditions are all right for the seeds to germinate promptly. The 
child did not know this; it was an accident as far as he was con¬ 
cerned that the conditions were suitable. Hut accidents will not do for 
serious gardening, so we must learn that there are suitable times to sow 
different kinds of seeds. 
We can sow peas as 
soon as the frost is out 
of the ground, but if 
we plant our beans then 
that will be the last we 
shall see of them, for 
in the cold g r ou n d 
they will rot. So with 
the flower seeds, some 
kinds are verj r hardy; 
for instance, we can 
scatter morning glory 
seed on the frozen 
ground, and it will take 
no hurt, but in time the 
plants will spring up ; 
but if we treat the bal- 
hot-jjed. sam seeds the same way 
never will a plant be 
produced from them. In seed sowing a great deal of skill can be ac¬ 
quired, and those who know least about it are the ones who usually are 
loudest in their complaints about bad seeds. It is an advantage with 
many kinds of seed to sow them early, as in the case of onions which 
should lie sown as early in spring as the ground can be prepared, but 
cucumbers and egg-plants must wait until the ground is warm. Lettuce 
seed may be scattered on the snow or frozen ground, and as a result 
t hey will give an early crop, but little zinnia plants would perish in the 
cold, even if the seeds germinated when treated the same way. 
When to Sow Seeds. 
All through the Guide we have tried to state the best time to sow the 
different kinds of seeds and give the proper treatment of them, but after 
all a great deal depends on the judgment of each person, and upon the 
experience that has been acquired. Now, as to the time of sowing seeds, 
although, as lues been shown, some kinds may be put into the ground 
very eur.y, yet ns a rule, seed sowing cannot be safely done until frost is 
out of the ground and the upper soil has become warm ; everywhere 
the farmers know when this time in the spring comes, for then they can 
plant corn, so that will be the time when most of the seed sowing will 
commence in the garden, whether of vegetables or flowers. Some people 
arc so anxious to make their gardens that they do not wait until it is 
warm enough, and every spring a great many seeds are sown which start 
and are then cut down by the frost. 
Depth to Sow Seeds. 
It is important to know something about the depth to sow different 
kinds of seeds. Some line seeds if planted deep will never germinate, or, 
if they do the delicate plants will not have sufficient strength to push 
their way through the mass of soil which covers them. Even large seeds 
might be planted very shallow if wo were sure t hat timely showers would 
keep the soil moist, but as there is danger of drought and that a hot sun 
may destroy the sprouted seeds, they are planted deeper so that the soil 
may be a protection. For all seeds the soil should be mellow and for 
small seeds the surface should be raked very fine. An old rule with 
gardeners is to cover seeds so that the soil over them shall be twice the 
thickness of the seed. Hut something depends on the character of the 
soil; if it is clayey and liable to bake it is not suitable to sow seeds in, or 
if it must be used, then it is a good plan to have some sand to place over 
the seeds, as this will allow the young plants easily to push through. 
Grass Mulch for Seeds. 
When tine seeds are to be sown and dry weather or a hot sun is to be 
feared, it is well to place some short clippings of grass or some such ma¬ 
terial over the rows ; when the little plants start this mulch can be drawn 
asidea little. Thus it will be seen a gardener must employ different means 
with ditierent kinds of seeds and under different circumstances. At all 
times he seeks to secure for the seeds sufficient warmth and moisture. 
Sowing Seeds Under Glass. 
Wit h many kinds of flowering plants and vegetables it is not best to 
wait until the weather is favorable to sow.the seed in the open garden, 
for much better results can bo obtained if they are sown earlier and the 
plants are large enough to put out when the line weather comes, for our 
seasons are too short to allow of any long time to wait for the plants to 
grow. For this reason we sow seeds in a propagating house or green¬ 
house, or in boxes in the window, or in a hot-bed or cold frame, in some 
place where the plants can be protected while it is yet cold, and yet have 
a temperature in which they will thrive. 
Hot-beds, by being protected at the sides and ends with boards, and 
covered with glass, confine the moisture which arises from the earth, 
and thus the atmosphere is kept humid and the surface moist, and the 
plants are not subjected to changes of temperature, as a uniform state 
can be maint ained no matter what the weather may be. The bottom heat 
of t he hot-bed warms the soil, and enables the grower to put in his seed 
early, and obtain plants of good size before the soil outside is warm 
enough to receive the seed. Care, however, is required to prevent scorch¬ 
ing the young plants. In bright days the heat is intense inside the frame, 
and unless air is freely given,* or some course taken to obstruct the rays 
of the sun, most likely a great portion of the plants will be ruined. When 
the sun gets pretty warm give the glass a thin coat of whitewash. This 
gives a little shade, and, wit h some air during the middle of bright days, 
will make all safe. The hot-bed is made by forming a pile of horse 
manure with the straw used for bedding, or leaves, some three feet in 
height. Shake all together, so that straw and manure will be equally 
mixed. It may be sunk in the ground a foot, or eighteen inches, or made 
on the surface. On this place about five inches of good mellow soil. 
Then set the frame and keep it close until fermentation takes place and 
the soil is Quite warm. It is better to wait a day or two after this, and 
then sow the seeds. 
Cold-Frame. 
Some of the advantages of a hot-bed can be secured by a cold-frame. 
This is simply a frame with sash, the same as employed for a hot-bed, 
placed upon a bed of fine, mellow earth, in some sheltered place in the 
garden. The heat of the sun warms the soil, and, as the air is confined, the 
warmth and moisture cannot escape. After the frame is secured in 
its place, a couple of inches of fine earth should be placed inside, 
and the frame closed up for a day or two before the seeds are planted. 
As the cold-frame depends upon the sun for its warmth, it must not 
be started as soon as the hot-bed, and in this latitude the latter part of 
April is soon enough. Plants will then be large enough for t ransplant¬ 
ing to the open ground as soon as danger from frost is over, and, as a 
general thing, they will be hardier and better able to endure the shock 
of transplanting than if grown in a hot-bed. A frame of this kind any 
one can manage. Watering occasionally will be necessary; and air must 
be given on bright, warm days. Shade also is necessary. 
Hand-Glasses. 
Frames, when so small as to be conveniently moved by hand, are called 
hand-glasses. A frame, or box, with a couple of lights of glass on top 
will answer a very good purpose, though 
when small it would be better to have the 
front of glass. A very good hand-glass is 
made of a square frame, with a light of 
glass at each side and on the top. These 
contrivances, though so simple as to be 
r-—j made by any one handy with tools, are 
^ exceedingly useful, as they prevent the 
drying of the surface of the ground, and 
BOX HAND-GLASS. afford the plants shelter from sudden 
changes of temperature, cold storms and 
frosty nights. Seeds may be sown in the house in pots, or boxes, but the 
greatest difficulty is that the soil dries very rapidly in them, and young 
plants are apt to suffer. A very good plan is to cover the pot with a 
pane of glass, removing it occasionally for air. Where_ 
very fine seeds are sown in pots, the watering, unless 
carefully done, generally results in great injury. A 
wet paper placed over tlie top of the pot will afford 
moisture enough for the germination or line seeds. I f 
pots are used it is well to sink t hem to the rim in a box 
of moss, or something of the kind, that will hold 
moisture, and prevent the drying of the earth in the 
pots. A shallow box may be used to advantage, sow¬ 
ing the seed carefully in narrow drills. 
Of course it is designed that plants from the hot-bed, cold-frame and 
seed-bed shall be transplanted to the border or beds where they are to 
ilower, and these helps are intended mainly for tender and half-hard v 
annuals. The hardy annuals may be sown where they are to flower, 
though, with the exception of a few varieties difficult to transplant, it 
is best to sow all in a seed-bed. 
SEED GROWING 
IN POT. 
Transplanting*. 
All the operations of the garden should be done with neatness; no 
crooked irregular rows are admissible. After plants in the seed-beds 
have obtained their second leaves and made an inch or two of growth, 
they should be moved to the garden beds or border. This should be done 
on a dull day if possible, i f not, the plants may require shading after re¬ 
moval until they become established. In transplanting in dry weather, 
always give the plants as they stand in the seed-bed a good soaking with 
water, and also the soil to which they are removed, an hour or so before 
removal. In removing, disturb the roots as little as possible. If the 
plants are not too thick, there is no need of injuring the roots; and in 
sowing, it is well to have this in view, and sow evenly and thinly. As 
soon as the young plants come up, if too thick, a portion should be re¬ 
moved. A few plants, with long tap roots, will not bear removal well. 
The Larkspurs are difficult, and these and the Poppies, and plants with 
like roots, should be sown where they are to remain. Sweet Peas, Can¬ 
dytuft, and a few flowers of similar character, that do best if sown as 
early as the ground can be got ready, should always be sowu where they 
are to bloom. 
