Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-05-07
Seed-Sowing.

a newborn babe. There are plenty OF
poor seed sold, it is true, but it is only
poor in variety, not in terminating quail
tiles. A friend last year bought seed
from two parties; one sold his seed for
under one-third less than the other, but
the high-priced seed was worth more
than five times the low-priced, when
they were grown, for scarce one in FIVE
were anything like what they ought to
be. Out of two acres of cabbages there
were nearly all kinds, but mostly the
cheap old worthless sorts; this seed was
bought at $3.50 per pound. For the
second batch So pound was paid and,
as the owner said, were cheaper even if
he had to pay more, for the seed was
true to name and nearly every plant
raised and headed we'll. .F.r
Cheap seed If any kind is often very
dear, aud it is far better to pay for good
seed and have what we want, than be
growing lot of poor stuff, for good
plants only take up the room that poor,
unsatisfactory things do. ~ II
Much seed is lost by careless sowing,
whether it is good or bad, and often the
scotsman is blamed for what is really
the sower's fault. II
A good rule for sowing is to put seed
five times its own depth In the soil. For
example, if pea or bean be, say, o
quarter of an inch in diameter, it may
be covered one inch and quarter with
soil, and so in proportion for other seed.
Small seeds, such as lobelias, musk, por-
tulaca, celery, or Others are best sown
on the surface, and merely worked into
the soil with the open hand or a fiat
piece of wood; but however sown, the
seed should be made to feel the soil
that is, the soil should be made firm
about the seed. If large fields or large
patches are sown roller is an indispen-
sible thing,to roll over the ground where
the seed has been sown. Very small
seeds are best sown in boxes about three
inches in depth, eighteen inches wide,
and about two feet long, so as to be
handy to carry around. About two
inches in depth of soil is enough to put
in the boxes to SOW upon. Let the soil
be made firm with flat piece of wood
or the open hand. Sow on the surface,
and il the seed is like musk or lobelia. it
is best worked in with the hand, as a
rough piece of wood would be likely to
carry off part of the seed.
A good c1mpost for sowing seed on
can be made by gathering few old
droppings from cows that have lain ex-
posed to the weather for some months,
and if a little leaf mold is handy, or
some spent hops from brewery or tea
leaves, if not allowed to mold, take any
of these with any common soil aud mix
equal portions of each together to raise
seed upon. Let the droppings be broken
up as fine as possible, and all be well
mixed together If leaf mold, hops or
tea leaves are not handy, a little old saw
dust or sand will be good help whenever
the native soil is heavy.
A good way to germinate small seeds,
whether sown in boxes or open ground,
is to make frame of four pieces OF
wood, then tack upon it any pieces of
cloth or old carpet, or rough gunny
bags, and use such as covering letting
it remain over the seedlings until they
get strong, occasionally raising such COW
ering morning and evening, unless the
weather is rough or cold. Many choice
plants can be raised in this way without
the aid Oft hot bed. Small seedlings or
young plants just raising from seed
should be invariably protected from cold
or drying winds, or strong sunshine.
In sowing seed for crops it is poor
economy to sow too thin or too small q
quantity. 1t is by far the best to putin
plenty of seed and to follow the selec
ton idea after, pulling or cutting out al
weak or poor plants, and leaving the ro
bust to grow for what is wanted. Z
Many market gardeners adopt very
good plan when sowing onion, carrot
parship or other slow terminating seeds
They sow a thin sprinkling of radisf
seed along each row, this comes up in ;
few days and shows them where theu
rows are, and by this means they cal
begin to hoe between the rows as soor
, as the weeds appear, which saves grea
: deal of labor and expense, the radishe
can be drawn out before they hurt othe
things, and two crops are got from tn,
: same land. l-.
t In ordinary private gardens it is pos
sible to grow two crops each year, ant
enjoy more vegetables than is general,
| done. Spinach, lettuce ard such gener
ally mature in a few weeks, and thei
/ places can be occupied by other thing
) for the rest of the season. Early pea
: could be replaced by celery or late beans
and many things that were sown earl,
$ could be replaced by late crops. s...
Y When vegetable seeds are sown il
Y rows or hills in small gardens, the sol
g can be pressed to the seed by walkin,
: up the rows or pressing the soil wit
: the feet. This serves another good pur
D pose; if between the rows is not presse,
Q hard fewer weeds will come up, there
+ by saving much labor.
n Flower seeds, many of the ANNALS
Q are bad to transplant and should b
s sown where they have to grow, such a
h petunias and mignonette. Any other
that can be transplanted are best SOW
@ in hot beds, boxes and sheltered places
: if wanted for early bloom.
n Heat, air and moisture are always re
/ quired in order that seed may germin
n ate, and if any one of these are absent o
Y in excess, termination stops and seed
!. will lay for ages without moving.
e Some gardeners prefer old seeds, sue
: as cucumbers, melons and squash. TIL
: only thing in this theory is, that tn
4 plants from such seed are likely to b
# weaker and produce more flowers, cor
n sequently more fruit, but in such case
= the plants will require extra good sol
n or help with liquid manure, as the
h would be exhausted soon by excess c
A -,