36 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



the soil. After the seeds are all sown, if the soil is 

 at all dry, sprinkle carefully with a rubber sprinkler, 

 or a whisk-broom dipped in water and shaken over 

 the bed. Do not use the watering-pot, as it will wash 

 the seed out of the ground. When the plants are up 

 and of some size the watering-pot may be resorted 

 to, but not before. When all the seeds are sown as 

 directed cover with newspapers and close the sash. 



The most careful attention must now be given the 

 hotbed. If the temperature rises above 75 degrees 

 in the warmest part of the day the sash must be raised 

 an inch or two. In doing this, if the wind is cold, it will 

 be best to slip a strip of wood between the sash and 

 frame on the windward side, or protect the opening 

 on the windward side with a bit of carpet. 



When the seeds in any particular plot show a single 

 pair of leaves, remove the paper over that much of 

 the bed, still shading from the sun during the hottest 

 part of the day by a bit of paper on the glass directly 

 over the plants. When the plants appear too thickly 

 in the row, transplant them as soon as they have their 

 second leaves into other rows between the first, or 

 into another hotbed or cold-frame. Encourage vig- 

 orous growth by giving room to develop and as much 

 air and light as possible. 



As soon as the plants are of sufficient size and the 

 weather is warm enough, remove the sash during the 

 day, replacing it with screens made of lath. These 

 screens are easily made by nailing strips of lath, the 



