254 VEGETABLE FORCING 



"Fully as emphatic results fol\ow the selection of seed, all of 

 which is from the same plant, as were secured by selection on the 

 size basis, irrespective of parentage; so that the use of commercial 

 seeds of large size has practical bearing irrespective of considera- 

 tions of parental vigor. 



"Large seed, regardless of its source, of mixed or unmixed 

 heritage, is superior to small seed of the same source, because it 

 gives larger plants, greater uniformity in stand at edible maturity, 

 and a maturation gain of from 7 to 10 days. In greenhouse culture 

 and elsewhere, when space is valuable or earliness imperative, an 

 economic gain may be expected from the use of large seed. In 

 actual practice this advantage may be secured by sifting out and 

 discarding the small seed." 



Sowing. The beds should be smooth, level and fairly 

 moist before the seed is sown. An occasional grower 

 sows broadcast, but drills possess many advantages. The 

 space between rows varies from 3 to 6 inches. Close 

 planting has a tendency to produce small roots, to retard 

 their maturity, and to encourage damping-off fungi and 

 large tops. The rows may be relatively close if low tem- 

 peratures are to be maintained. 



Only an occasional grower plants as close as 3 inches 

 and very few allow 6 inches between rows. The most 

 common spacing is 4 inches, though many allow 4^2 to 5 

 inches. Varieties which produce small tops and small 

 roots may be planted at minimum distances. A success- 

 ful grower of the Middle West spaces the rows 4^2 inches 

 apart. When the bulk of the crop is pulled, the second 

 sowings are made midway between the first, so that the 

 new and the old rows are only 2^4 inches apart for per- 

 haps a week. This plan of intersowing is the most suc- 

 cessful when the plants are thinned to from 8 to 10 to 

 the linear foot of row. 



The time for making each sowing must be determined 

 by market conditions, season of the year, varieties grown, 

 temperatures of the house and whether benches or ground 

 beds are used. From four to eight weeks are required 

 for the button varieties to mature. The amount of sun- 



