4) 
tains very little air, and they will rot. Figure 2, plate 8, 
shows very clearly what happens to seed sown at various 
depths. Those near the surface were the first to ger- 
minate and grow, while some of the others lower down 
have germinated, the odds against them are too great and 
they will finally succumb. Some of the seed planted deep 
have already rotted. When sowing seed the extremely 
small ones should be pressed into the soil after it has been 
watered, or the sub-irrigation bucket method used. All 
small seed should barely be covered, just enough fine soil 
or sand being passed through the sieve until they are no 
longer visible. In sieving soil or sand over small seed 
the sieve should be held not more than an inch or two 
above the surface of the soil. If held higher, the particles 
of sand or soil striking the seeds will cause them to jump 
in all directions, with the result that some of them will 
immediately be covered and the remainder will still be 
on the surface, or some will have a light covering and 
others a heavy one. This will result in uneven and many 
times poor germination. Larger seed, such as coreopsis, 
hollyhocks, asters, and cornflowers may be sown some- 
what deeper, being covered with about an eighth of an 
inch of soil. 
Soil medium in which to sow seed.—Most seed have 
been and probably always will be sown in soil. It is the 
commonest material available and gives good results. 
The best soil for the purpose is composed of about one 
part loam, one part leaf-mold, and one part sand. By 
loam is meant a soil that contains a liberal amount of 
vegetable matter in the form of decaying roots, leaves, 
etc. 
Sand is the most convenient material in which seed 
may be sown. However, if sand is used the seed require 
much closer watching. After a seedling has germinated 
and the roots are formed they begin searching for food. 
Sand is practically devoid of any food material. Conse- 
quently as soon as the seedlings have germinated and are 
large enough for handling they should be transplanted to 
pots or boxes containing soil. If left in pure sand for a 
PUDOR’S, INC., PUYALLUP, WASH. 
