358 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS. 



In concluding the section of this hook devoted to veg- 

 etable growing, we will add a few goneral instructions 

 that may have been omitted in the details already giveu- 

 In sowing all kinds of seeds, more particularly those of 

 small size, be careful, if the soil is dry, to **firm" or 

 press down the surface of the bed or roWj after sowing, 

 with the feet, or a light roller, or the back of a spade, 

 more especially if tlie weather is beginning to get warm. 

 Crops are often lost through the failure of the seeds to 

 germinate, for the simple reason that the soil is left loose 

 about the tiny seeds, and the dry atmosphere penetrates 

 to them, shrivehng tliem up until all vitality is destroyed. 

 We sow nearly all vegetable crops in rows, and in every 

 casey as soon as the seed is sown, if is pressed down in the 

 drill with the foot, then covered 21 p level by the back of a 

 rake drawn lengthways with the drills, and again firmed 

 by tlie roller or back of a spade. Fur want of this simple 

 precaution, perhaps one-fourth of all seeds sown fail to 

 ger^ninate, and the seedsman is blamed, while the fault 

 is owing entirely to the ignorance or carelessness of the 

 planter. Again, for the same reason, when setting out 

 plants of any kind, be certain that the soil is pressed 

 close to the root. In our large plantings in market 

 gardening, partieukirly in summer, we make it a rule in 

 dry weather to turn back on the row after planting it 

 with the dibber or trowel, and press the earth firmly to 

 each plant with the foot. We iiave seen whole acres of 

 Celery, Cabbage, and Strawberry plants lost solely through 

 neglect of this precaution. 



Never work the soil while it is so wet as to clog. 

 Better wait a week for it to dry than to stir it if wet. 



In no work in which men are en2fa£:ed is the adage, ''A 

 stitch in time saves nine," more applicable than to the 

 work of the farm or garden. The instant that weeds 



