, 1842-04-02

der the surface, and so to cover it with earth,
as shall barely secure to it a constant supply
of moisture. There are many seeds, as of
the carrot, rarsnip, orchard grass, &c. which
if not previously stepped, or the soil well
pulverized and pressed upon them, fail 20
grow for want of moisture. Hence, in sow.
ing orchard grass, it is found prudent to
spreadit upon a floor and sprinkle it with wa.
ter, before it is sown, and to pass a roller
over the ground after the seed is sown; and
hence, in light garden mould. it is advisable
to press with the hoe or spade. tie earth up.
on all light seeds after they are sown."
On Sowing flower Seeds.
DAVID THOMAS, an experienced and very
successful Florist remarks:-N. G. Far.
Vol. 1. p. Sc.
For large seeds like the Bean or the Pea,
4 coarse soil is well adapted, as they can
force their way to the surface from any
moderate depth; but small seeds require diff
ferent treatment; and we lay it down as a
safe rule, the finer the seed, the finer should
be The soil.
How does Nature, exemplifying Supreme
Wisdom, sow her most delicate seeds9 She
scatters them on the shady ground, trusting
to the rain or the frost to cover them, (of
course sligh,ly.) and they terminate before
the sun has acquired power enough to scorch
then. The dust-like seeds of the Orchis
and Cypripendium sometimes grow in beds
of damp moss.
Common garden loans, whether clayey or
sandy, is much improved by a dressing of
vegetable earth from the woods, well mixed
before planting. If prepared in the proceed
ing autumn, and pulverized by the frost, all
the better.
Such n soil is favorable to seeds Of almost
any kind, but essential to the finer and more
delicate sorts. The preparation Of the soil
alone, however, is not enough. Fine seeds
may be smothered if covered more than from
one-eighth 10 half an inch deep; and their
short roots may be parched if exposed to
the sun except in morning and evening. To
a fine soil, therefore, we must add the pro-
lection Of SHADE, and in time of drought, a
regular supply Of moistare. If the seeds are
sown in an open border, a sprinkling of wa
ter in the evenings is best, but carefully alb
stain from applying SO much as will bake the
ground"
On Preparing and Sowing Onion Seed.
w. RIsLEr-(M G. Far. Vel. p. 49,
says:
"First. soak the seeds in water from six to
twenty-four hours some seeds being slower
to admit moisture than others, is the differ
ence in the time required. After soaking,
drain off the water, and mix the seeds with
a sufficient quantity of earth 10 absorb the
moisture remaing on the seeds; stir them Of.
ten that they may vegetate evenly, and keep
them in a moderate degree of warmth and
moisture until they are sprouted, when they
are ready to put into the ground. If the
weather should be ~unfavorable, put the seeds
IN a cool place, which VIII check tneir CROWN.
1t was left in that situation until the time
Of sowing. In April, as soon as the soil was
sufficiently dry. the ploughing was common
ced, and the second day, at night, the SOW
ing was finished. with seed prepared ASIDE
fore stated. In one weeh the onions were up,
rows were seon visible nearly twenty rods,
and no weeds yet appeared. The operation
of stirring the soil with rakes and hoes was
then commenced, and the weeds were not
suffered to grow during the summer Ut is
a. mistaken notion that il is not time to hoe a
garden until it is green with weeds. The
first Of September the onions were harvest
ed, and the product was over two thousand
bushels of fine onions from two and a half
From the N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
NHoErfnv Candles