lupins from seed

Planting tips? The package says to nick the seed, which seems tedious on small seeds. Is it necessary? Any tips on an easy way to get the effect if it is?
I cannot see me sitting with a razor knife going seed by seed. That way lies madness and likely bloodletting.

Help?

I think with lupines it is pretty necessary. How about trying sandpaper?:

http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/seed-scarification-hack-sandpaper.html

Soaking for 24h in warm water is an easier method of scarifying seed.
Another method I've heard is to carry the seeds in your pocket with some loose change until sufficiently abraded.

Soaking isn't scarifying, unless it's done with acid (a common method, actually). The scarification is what renders the soaking effective. Sometimes only soaking works, but some seeds are quite water resistant and the seed coat needs to be breached first.

What pokes the holes in those perennial lupine fields?

Morning glory seeds require scarring too unless they overwinter on the ground, in my experience.

Matu Collins wrote:What pokes the holes in those perennial lupine fields?

Maybe they go through an alimentary canal...I think that's what acid treatments are intended to simulate. Or else the seed coat breaks down after a period of weathering. Or the fairies do it...

I just got done watering my Lupine seedlings that are starting to pop up.

I bought them at the local feed store and they are pre-started. Each seed is started, then wrapped in diatamatious earth. Of course the seeds were a bit more expensive but for my children they were easier to handle and they are just popping up like mad! Also they are about a week ahead of other seeds not treated with this treatment. Another idea....

I've never scarified lupine seeds, and I have lupine seedlings to show for it.

I find lupin only second to buckwheat in it's keenness to grow-I've never done a thing to it before planting.
Here it will sprout just lying on the surface if the blackbirds scratch it up...