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Seed Sowing

Seed Sowing image
Parent Issue
Day
13
Month
March
Year
1874
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

1 can easily undorstand wliy a large quantity oí' seed sown never grows, and consequentiy has a tendeucy to discouragement. The seedsman generally is blamed ; but this is a mistalce, for bad as is tho seed frequently sold, it must bo borne in mind that if one-half germinates, there is more than enough for one's use. Tho oause of failuro is sowiug too deep, and actually burying the seed. In a state of nature all seeds germinate on the top of the ground, proteoted with a slight covcring of fallen leaves or blades of grass. Thero is a golden rule to guide us in sowing seed, and that is, never to cover it with a greater thickness of soil than the diameter of the seed itsolf. Thero are, of course, exceptions ; but in sowing vadishC8 for instance, tho ground should bo forked or dug level. The seed should be sown, and if a ehower of rain falls, nothing more is required, as it will break down tho rough groimd sufnciently to cover the seed. In tho absence of rain, you ïnay uso an ordinary wooden hay-rake to chop tho soil - not to rake it as a person would a turn-pike road ; nor must you confound tho wooden rake with the ordinary iron rako. Tho latter I consider ono of tho most dangerous tools in a garden, and, as a sixtined fork is now being manufacturad, the iron rake ought to bo eondemncd iiltogctuer. Now, many amataura suppo8e that rakos are for the purpose, of clearing the ground of stones, tho very poros of the soil by which light, heat and nioisture reach tho roots of all planta.' - The consoquenae is, you havo a surface washod flat by the rain and baked hard. by tho sun, and, as the soil so cultivated is sown, and consequently cannot bo disturbed, it becomes an eyesore for months. " Bui," my friends tsay, " if I wero to adopt your advice, and not cover up the seeds, I would have nocrop at all, becauao the birds would tako them." Now there is oniy ono effectual euro against small birdg. You may build up dummies, put cross-lines of feathers, stick feathers in O6cillating turnips, resort to stuffed ferrets or cats ; and all to no purpose, as the birds after a short consultation, will know that neithcr of these experiments is any trap at all. But they will never approach black cotton, which nwst bo stretchod in lines across that part sown about two inches from tho ground, and with all the craft of sparrows, they will never allow themselves to get entangled in cotton. -

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus