San Francisco 
SEED SOWING 
The sowing of seed is the most important operation in 
the garden, and since most failures are due to oversight or 
unfavorable conditions, a technique should be acquired that 
will give uniformly good results. 
Use a clean shallow box, pot, or seed pan (shallow pot) 
and make sure that it will have drainage. Mix one or two 
parts of loam, one part of leaf mold or peat moss, and one 
part of clean sharp sand together. Sprinkle enough super- 
phosphate over the surface to barely whiten, and stir it 
thoroughly into the mixture. Screen this mixture through a 
quarter inch mesh screen, into the flat or seed pan to 
within one-half to three-quarters inch of the top. At this 
point the soil should be mellow-moist but not wet. Firm 
lightly and level carefully, but do not pack or tamp it. 
Sow the seed thinly, and screen enough of the same soil 
mixture through an eighth inch mesh screen to lightly cover 
it. Larger seeds are covered approximately twice or three 
times their breadth, while very small seeds need very little 
covering. A very light sprinkling of sand may be added, after 
which the surface should be pressed very lightly with a 
board or block. Water thoroughly with a very fine spray, 
but do not permit puddles to form. Another method of 
watering which prevents disturbance of the seeds, is to place 
the container in a vessel of water to about one-half the 
depth of the seed container, and permit it to remain until 
moisture has soaked up to the soil surface. 
Place the seed container in a protected place, shaded from 
direct sunshine. Cover with a shaded pane of glass, burlap, 
or newspaper, but in cloudy weather give more ventilation. 
Remove the covering as soon as germination starts, and 
when all seeds are sprouted move them to the sunlight. 
During the fall and winter months a moderately warm 
situation may be given, but in warm weather the seed bed 
should be Kept cool, particularly for delphinium, pansy, viola, 
primula, and most hardy plant seeds. At no time during the 
germinating period should the soil surface be permitted to 
dry out. Many failures result from this oversight at the 
critical time when the seeds are just starting to germinate. 
On the other hand, the seed bed should not be kept too wet 
and watering should never be done in the late afternoon, as 
a condition may be created favorable to the growth of 
destructive fungus which may destroy the seedlings, often 
even before they come through the soil surface. If the 
seedlings turn brown and break off the soil surface, use a 
solution of Semesan or Koppersol as directed. 
The first leaf pair of the seedling are feeder leaves that 
sustain it until roots are formed. After the second or third 
set appear, the seedlings may be transferred to another 
flat, or into Plant Bands. The same soil mixture may be 
used, adding a light sprinkling of Hallawell’s Complete Plant 
Food instead of the superphosphate. When the plants are 
three to four inches high, they may be transplanted to the 
situation where are are to remain. After becoming estab- 
lished the tops may be pinched out to induce branching, 
and a light application of Complete Plant Food given to 
keep the plants growing. 
When sowing seed in outdoor beds, or in the garden where 
the plants are to remain, follow a routine of careful soil 
preparation, seed sowing and watering. Always watch for 
attacks by sowbugs which destroy tiny seedlings, sometimes 
even before they appear through the surface, and protect 
small plants in the garden from chewing insects. Sowbug 
Control. Snarol, and Garden Guard are good products for 
this purpose. 









Another method is to sow the seeds very thinly 
in a six or seven inch pot or seed pan. When the 
seedlings are growing nicely, thin to one inch or 
more apart. When the third set of leaves has 
formed, apply a level teaspoonful of Complete Plant 
Food and water thoroughly. Repeat this after ten 
to fourteen days, and again according to the needs of 
the plants. When the plants are about five inches 
high, and ready for the garden, turn the pot over 
and tap out the ball of earth. If the ball is dropped 
on a hard surface with the plants upward it will 
break up nicely, allowing them to be pulled apart 
without root injury. 

37 

Sow the seeds thinly. The box may be divided to 
accommodate separate colors of the same variety. 

Transplant seedlings into a flat as above or into 
Plant Bands. The latter are described elsewhere in 
this catalog. 

At this point either thin the plants as described 
below or transplant into flats or Plant Bands. (Photo 
at right is of mature plants.) 
