152 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



Thin the seed-bed rows to one to two inches apart 

 for the best results. 



Transplant at four inches into rows one foot 

 apart, six, nine or twelve inches in the rows, accord- 

 ing to the size at which the plants are wanted. One 

 foot apart each way will usually give room for full 

 development. 



If not transplanted it is a good plan in home 

 gardening to make an early thinning, so that the 

 plants shall not crowd. When they get to be about 

 five inches tall, growing very close together, thin to 

 three inches apart, and eat or transplant thinnings. 

 Thin again to six inches and finally to a foot apart in 

 the rows, allowing the remaining plants to grow to 

 full size before picking. 



Culture. Keep the surface - mulch in good condi- 

 tion. Do not hoe the earth against the plants, nor get 

 earth upon or in them. If watered with liquid manure, 

 or if nitrate of soda is scattered about the plants, take 

 care not to get the fertilizer on the leaves. 



Fertilizer. Liquid manure or nitrate of soda may 

 be applied at intervals with benefit if the soil is not 

 rich. But if the ground has been thoroughly enriched 

 with barnyard manure, no further fertilizing is needed. 

 It has been proved by station tests that "after the soil 

 has received a heavy application of stable manure, any 

 application of chemical fertilizers is only thrown away/'' 

 "Sulfate of soda was found to be highly injurious, 



