The national leader., 1889-05-18
IN THE GARDEN.
PREPARING FOR SEED SOWING.

The work of digging the ground for
the reception of seeds should be com
pleted at once, and in most soils it can
be better and more easily done with the
fork than the spade, inasmuch as the
Jumps can be broken into smaller part
icles with the frst-named implement
than the other 1t is not enough to
make the ground fine on the surface
only, the whole mass should be well di-
vided for the free growth of plants.
The surface should be the most pulver-
ised for the reception of seeds, or they
cannot be covered at uniform depth
a matter of some Importance. What is
known as fine tilth, or loose mouldy
surface, is the first essential to success
in seed sowing.
Some land is naturally heavy, and
difficult to smash into small particles
when digging, but day or two after
wards, when the surface has become
dried (yet not SO dry as to be ''baked''),
the Jumps often yield to blows from the
fork or rake, and fall into piece. Fa-
vorable opportunities for doing this
should be watched for, and favorably
taken advantage of, as, if missed they
may not occur again for some time.
Those who start cuttings in water
will use a bottle with a wide mouth,
they will find it an easy matter to re-
move the plant when the time comes to
pot it, without injuring the roots. Or,
after the roots have reached the side of
the glass, they can sift the fine earth
into the bottle till it is an inch or two
in depth After the roots have taken
possession of this soil, the top of the
bottle can be broken off by a sharp
blow with knife, and then the mass of
earth can be slipped out without dis
turbing the roots in the least, in exact
| ly the same manner as the ball of earth
in which plant is growing can be re-
moved from pot.
In potting young plants, don't make
the too common mistake of putting
them in too large pots at first. Some
pot off small plant into a six or seven
inch pot, filled with rich earth It is
expected to make a vigorous growth,
but it generally turns yellow, and soon
dies. They cannot understand why
| this is so. The reason is that there is
more nutriment in the soil than the
young and delicate roots can dispose of.
It is overfed. Two and three inch pots
are large enough for young plants. Let
them remain in these pots till the roots
completely fill the soil. Then change
to size larger.
Don't cut off the leaves of bulbous
plants after they have done Towering,
thinking that you can make the crest
in this way. Let them ripen. They
will die off as the sap goes back into
the bulb Give water as long as new
leaves are put forth. When they cease
to appear, withhold water, and as the
leaves turn yellow, let the soil get quite
dry, and allow it to remain SO till the
plant gives sign of new growth. This
is applicable particularly to Amaryllises
and plants of that class
If you have an old Geranium that has
done duty through the winter by flow
ering, and you do not care to keep the
plant over another season, cut it up
into slips, and put them in sand, to
make young plants. An old plant will
often furnish enough cuttings to fill
bed in the garden. Never throw away
a good cutting, for if you don't want
the plant it will grow into, some one
will
Plants will be making vigorous
growth at this season of the year, and
must have daily attention. While they
were at standstill, they required COM
paratively little water. In winter the
evaporation is small, because the sun
shines but a small part of the time.
But as new and active growth begins,
and as the sun strengthens ''as the days
lengthen," the roots will begin to de-
mand more moisture, and should be
given all they can take care of.
Give all growing plants a weekly ap-
plication of manure water. But do not
give it to any plants not making growth.
They must be active, or they cannot
make use of it, and it will injure dor
mant plants to excite them with it.