26 



Sowing. — In growing annuals, the following directions should be 

 observed by the children : — 



(i) The soil should be medium rich with manure, and porous with 

 sand, deeply cultivated and very finely pulverized. Children are inclined 

 to put in the seed without sufficient working of the ground. 



(2) The seed should not be sowed while the ground is still cold, nor 

 when it is very w r et. 



(3) Small seeds require the least possible covering ; sifting fine light 

 soil over them is sufficient, but for larger seeds a covering of about three 

 times the diameter of the seed is needed. 



(4) The soil covering the seeds should be firmly pressed in order to 

 ensure moisture for their sprouting. 



(5) Shading and sprinkling will be needed at first. 



If this work is done in the school room in window boxes a gain in 

 time is secured, but the results are rnore uncertain, and the children lose 

 the training and enthusiasm that result from acting independently. 



Thinning, Transplanting. — 



(1) The small plants should be thinned out as they grow and trans- 

 planted into their final location in the flower bed or pot. 



(2) This work is best done in cloudy weather and if the sun comes 

 out strong shade should be provided. 



(3) Tall, slender plants will need to be tied to stakes. 



(4) Plants should not be set too closely together in the beds ; the 

 distance apart should be not less than half the height of the plant. 



(5) Best effects are produced by having the different kinds of flowers 

 kept distinct in separate patches. 



Leading Varieties of Vegetables. 



For the information of teachers or associations, there is offered here 

 a list of our leading varieties of vegetables, and brief cultural directions. 

 It is the result of thirteen years of testing in the gardens of the Horti- 

 cultural Department and issued in Professor Hutt's report for 1905. The 

 information can be used as a basis for directing the observation of chil- 

 dren in the home gardening operations of their parents as well as guide 

 to their own gardens. 



Asparagus. Conover's Colossal and Palmetto. Plant in rows 4 feet 

 apart and 2 feet apart in the rows ; apply manure liberally and cultivate 

 thoroughly. 



Beans. Summer — Golden Wax. Autumn — Bush Lima. Winter — 

 Navy. Sow when danger of spring frost is past. 



Beets. Globe — Egyptian Turnip. Long — Long Smooth Blood. 

 Sow as soon as ground is fit to work. Thin when small to three inches 

 apart and take out every other one as soon as they are large enough to 

 use. 



Carrots. Chantenay and Scarlet Nantes. Sow early and thin the 

 same as beets. 



Cabbage. Early — Winningstadt. Late — Flat Dutch and Savoy. 

 Red — Mammoth Rock. Sow seed of early variety in hot bed about 



