THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 223 



planting; then they may be placed in a window near 

 the pane, where they will obtain as much sunshine as 

 possible. Drafts must be avoided. The boxes must be 

 moved away from the window on cold nights. 



Seedlings may be grown successfully in either east or 

 west windows, but the best results are obtained in south 

 windows. 



The depth from which seeds may come up will depend 

 upon one or more of the following conditions : the supply 

 of air, the structure of the embryo, and the amount of 

 nourishment stored in the seed. There is an optimum 

 depth at which the best results may be obtained in 

 each case. 



Tfl ANSPLA NTING 



When the second leaf begins to form, the seedlings 

 are ready for transplanting. This must be attended to 

 as soon as the plants are ready, especially if they are 

 crowded in the box. The greatest difficulty met with 

 in producing seedlings in a window is that they tend 

 to become weak and spindling. If transplanted at the 

 proper time, they will produce more roots, the stem 

 will become stronger, and a more vigorous leaf growth 

 will take place. Fig. 125 illustrates two tomato plants. 

 They were growing in the same box side by side. The 

 plant on the left was permitted to continue its growth 

 in the germinating box after the plants in the box were 

 thinned out ; the one on the right was transplanted 

 to another box. 



