BOOK OF THE HOME GARDEN 



as the beans, then when it comes up and is about 

 three inches high, we will pull out the weak plants, 

 leaving a strong one every six inches; this will give 

 us all strong plants in a row. 



The reason we plant so many grains and then 

 pull out is because we want strong plants and all 

 grains of corn do not make strong plants; in this 

 way we can choose the ones we consider best. When- 

 ever we speak of "thinning" we mean pulling out 

 some plants because they are too thick. We do 

 this when the plants have their second pair of leaves, 

 always trying to leave strong husky plants to grow. 



Some plants we pull out are good to eat; little 

 lettuce, and carrots, and beets, and onions and swiss 

 chard are good, but beans and corn and melons and 

 cucumbers and such things are not. When I say 

 "thin to six inches" it means start with a good strong 

 plant, then measure six inches away to another 

 plant, and pull out all plants between them. We 

 would not have to do this if we were sure all the 

 seeds would germinate, and make strong healthy 

 plants, but as we are not sure we sow more seed than 

 we really need and then pull up the extra plants. 



The tomatoes must have 1^/2 feet, for they spread 

 into big bushes and need that much room in which 

 to grow. When all danger of frost is over, makf 



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