88 MARKET GAllDEis^lNG. 



varieties will take longer than others, and different crops 

 of the same variety will take different periods to siDrout. 

 Seed thus treated and sown on a properly prepared bed 

 will often show a green line tweaty-four hours after sow- 

 ing, and thus be several days ahead of the weeds. If 

 the bed is ready before the seed can be prepared, as 

 described, then sow the dry seed and trust to sun, ma- 

 nure and water to hasten the process of germination. 

 After sowing keep the surface moist. Seed started in 

 pans may not need more than one watering previous to 

 showing above ground. Dry seed may require three or 

 four waterings, but the gardener must judge oi this for 

 himself, keeping the soil moist, but not wet, to the depth 

 of one inch. 



Care of Hotbeds. — Hotbeds should be covered 

 early in the evening, to retain their heat, and in the 

 morning uncovered when the sun rests upon the glass, 

 as every effort should be made to give the plants all the 

 sunlight possible, as its rays are vivifying to a degree 

 beyond the amount of its heat, it having a chemical and 

 physiological effect beyond explanation. Even dull 

 light is better than no light, consequently it is a bad 

 plan to cover sashes with mats, except for the direct pur- 

 pose of keeping out cold. 



If the box should be much charged with steam 

 from the manure, let it off at the high side, otherwise 

 the vapor may cause the plants to damp off. This 

 damping off is a very serious matter, usually due to a 

 want of ventilation, and it will occur whether there be 

 steam or not in the box, unless the air be changed, as it 

 really seems, to become poisonous ; consequently the bed 

 should be aired, even in cloudy and cool weather. The 

 amount of air should be regulated by the amount the 

 crop will stand without injury. By such proper treat- 

 ment the plants will be short, scockv, with broad, srreen 

 leaves ; with too little air the plants will be long-legged, 

 yellow and sickly. 



