50 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



depth. Or the soil may first be covered with a thin 

 layer of fine white sand, and the seeds sown on this 

 and covered according to need. Sand counteracts the 

 troublesome tendency to damping off caused by the 

 presence of a minute fungus in the form of a fine 

 moss or thread-like filaments covering the ground. 

 Since this is the result of too much moisture, the 

 remedy is to remove the glass, allowing the surplus 

 moisture to pass off and the dry air to strike the soil 

 for a short time. Care must be taken that the dry- 

 ness does not extend below the surface. Drops of 

 water on the glass indicate too much humidity. The 

 glass should be removed, wiped, and aired. Where 

 the plants are not too close together a crochet-hook 

 or hat-pin may be used to scrape the moss or filament 

 from the earth. This slight disturbance of the soil 

 often serves to destroy the fungus. If the soil 

 threatens to become dry, water carefully with a rub- 

 ber sprinkler. If the dryness begins in the bottom, 

 water as before by setting the flat in a pan of water. 



When the plants have their second leaves give 

 more air and remove the paper; in a day or two set 

 in a light, warm window, screening from the hot sun 

 by placing a piece of white paper between the box and 

 the window glass. Leave the glass partly off the flat 

 to admit air, and when the plants have their first true 

 leaves remove it entirely for a part of the time. 



When large enough to handle, transplant the seed- 

 lings into other flats, setting them one or two inches 



