Gardening Notes.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2632, 25 June 1887, Page 2

Gardening Notes.

M we a time when digging and- ; are being'made to form"seed beds for the ensuing season's, cropsit may hot be out of place to give.a;*B|brt article on seeds genera^,/ .the soa* son very many small see<&flie : through being buried too deeply;-jik'a< ; <jparm dry soil the depth of.Covering greater than would- be;' prudent 15 a wet, cold situation, • At tbioeason, a covering two incles in depllDis, quite enough for beansy.but later in the season three inches Svill not bo too much. All other bo covered in like manner' in 'proportion to size, making ah" allowance for the season and the character rth6 soil. Small seeds sown among I 'rpflgh olods must, for the most partjiail; but if ther clods, are broken .down, or even smoothed with the back'ofthe and the'seeds are covered with- tt little 0 light sifted soil, the growth will bo full and strong. A finojiltli is of the veryfirst importance in "onsuring the germination of seeds, and the importance ; ofthepreparatorywork,i.e,,the,digging and exposure in bo over rated.. Seeds sown in Wet, sticky; soil cannot dp well'-' A few- of the stoutest will struggle through, hut tho percentage of 1 growth .must be small. Thipk sowing is, uudef aay oiroara* stances, an evil, and if we. upon our seeds, not only is it afcstei/ but: it may be • -injuriousr; enough' to give, a powef tipn should always be sown, but-1 ; have seen in the ease of oniony ear-' rots, and other oi'bps,.ten,ti'mofl'ni6re seeds sown than were ever-needed! and besides tho .waste of the seeds'ahd tbV time lost; in. thinning, the; loosening : and distarbiiig of the soil mldo it less suitable for the orop.v .Pretty nearly all. seeds and. plants 'do" best when firmly attached to the ground;'. The ground should be worked in win* >,■ ter and pulverised; but if light-when ■'■ the seeds, are sown, the ground should' be rolled or trodden.

' OLD. SEEDS #I '• ; ">'-; ~.■■• of, good strains should never be . •thrown away until' their growings, " powers have been tested in...'Warmth.;* / Seeds have often been thrown awayY. because of their age, when they would' have grown vigorously enough. . All the Brassicas, if kept, in a drajiaMi-, place will retain their vitatiraK' a considerable or probaby longer; but .a .seat deal. "''* depends upon how of-'wHerethey: are kept.. All vegetable aiit)Btanoe£fV'even ■ seeds, if kept in bulk, will heai' and j ferment, and this is injurious tfjjife.v Seeds must be kept dry.-and;cool,- : Those that have been .buried, in the? earth too deep' to grow :•.'.>. minated, when brought'to life many,? •" years after being buried, The seedfil of the cucumber and allied;plantswill retain their vitality .for" a :. time; some persons thiij{,thit ieepmg ; ihe seeds a few yearr makes the plant more faithful, but I should'be in-' clined to say this is not pjroven. Seed! '■'.'■■ germinate best 'ini the' al

«»»jE»H»u> mu »ii mm,.!.,, ,i ,1,1,0 n,i„i,i wmijiiirta choice seeds of flowering and other plants sown under' glass may with advantage bo kept in'tho dark until the seeds havo burst their Cuticles, and are pushing aside the soil to come out into the world, Tho soaking of seeds in chilled water is sometimes practised.. Seeds whoso vitality has been- .weakened by .keeping, will grow ■better if sbatened till'the'•skits begin •to swell-before V'P-haVe, by •tliem''vihViuke''Waria water ffifc- -twenty:*' four; "* "jours;: raised cucumber' •and ''melon ...y&eds "-thaC : ljbpkedtbip anditliat proba-' bly;\yould not have gwiV^i-i£,itliey :not•■ been- soaked/ : Indfon'-sbot/'Qi' CSitlnaVfleisdsfi: 6the}i.wo> asVthose of Acacia, Or of tliahorbagedus ElijbxesVvJhich have skins;"or'shells of eiceptiOnal'harduess,- will "be benefited 'by .soaking,- but in.the kitchen- garden generally! should leave-tho seeds to grow as nature intended them; / • «—a— «i»i .'