THE FARM GARDEN 187 



then the top is raked. To water a bed, wet it thor- 

 oughly in the evening. "When the morning sun 

 begins to dry it out, loosen the top earth to stop 

 the rise of moisture. Sprinkling the plants every 

 few days is very harmful. Do not sow small, slow- 

 sprouting seeds like celery and onions in land that 

 bakes. A layer of chaff or a board may be laid on 

 the row to h^ld moisture, but it must be gradually 

 lifted as soon as the seeds get a start. 



Transplanting. In thickly-sown seed beds one 

 must thin or move the plants to the garden as soon 

 as they have their first true leaves. While seeds of 

 lettuce, onions, radishes, peas, and many other 

 things, can be sown in the ground in the early 

 spring, we can' gain from four to six weeks by sow- 

 ing the seeds of others indoors and transplanting 

 them. Many farmers buy their egg plants, tomatoes, 

 cauliflower, and peppers from hothouse gardens; 

 while others grow their own in window boxes, hot- 

 beds, and cold frames. 



The Window Box. A window box fifteen inches 

 square and six inches deep, or old tin pans nearly 

 filled with soil, are put in a south or east window. 

 Suitable soil or dirt has been obtained in the fall 

 and stored in the cellar or some convenient place. 

 This is mixed with a little coal ashes or fine sand 

 to make it light and loamy. The seed is scattered 

 and covered lightly. The soil is then watered with 

 a fine sprinjcler. Squashes and cucumbers may be 

 planted on pieces of sod turned upside dow*n. These 



