RAISING SPRING SEEDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1028, 19 July 1930, Page 30

RAISING SPRING SEEDS

HINTS AND ADVICE For the next two or three mouths most of our readers will be busy seedsowing. Where space or inclination is not available for seed beds, or if only a few seedlings are required for the home plot, the adoption of a wooden or even tin receptacle may be utilised to advantage. These receptacles or “fiats,” as they are more commonly called, may be constructed to any dimensions, al though the amateur would do well to be guided by the handy size generally adopted by the nursery folk These are about 14 Inches long, 12 inches wide, and 35 inches high, and may be made from old kerosene cases, butter boxes, or such-like, cut into the desired size.

Most serviceable flats may be acquired by cutting a kerosene tin in halves, lengthwise, which will give two idqal receptacles measuring approximately 14 inches by 9 inches by 4J inches. A few holes should be bored or pierced at the bottom for drainage. Now take a few crocks, cinders, or small broken stones tc form the base of the filling. Then fill up with soil, which should be reasonably rich, light, and loamy In texture, and finely sifted. This should be packed in the box lightly, and levelled to about three-quarters of an inch from the top.

We always advocate sowing the seed in narrow drills —straight little rows about 15 inches to 2 inches apart —made with a sharp pointed stick or skewer.