52 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



to the original tap-root being injured by moving, no 

 matter how carefully done. Such root-crops, therefore, 

 are allowed to mature in the spot where the seeds are 

 sown. If the young plants, however, are too close 

 together, they suffer sooner or later, owing to lack 

 of air and light. Hence it becomes necessary to pull 

 out the weakest seedlings, thus allowing more root 

 space and air space for the sturdier plants. This is 

 called " thinning out." 



PRICKING OUT. Crops that are not grown for their 

 roots, but for their heads, such as Cauliflowers, Lettuces, 

 Cabbages, etc., are generally moved from the bed 

 in which the seeds are sown. This moving is an 

 advantage, as more root fibres and consequently 

 more feeding agents are thus produced, and more 

 nourishment is absorbed in a given time from the 

 soil than would be the case with an unmoved plant. 



In " intensive " cultivation, French market- 

 gardeners do not leave their seedlings so long in 

 the seed-bed as is customary in England. Soon after 

 the first true leaves appear beyond the seed-leaves, 

 or cotyledons, the baby seedlings are " pricked out " 

 into prepared beds, either in frames or under cloches. 

 They are then gently watered, shaded from strong 

 sunshine for two or three days, during which period 

 also no outer air is admitted. This method ensures 

 the more rapid establishment of the young plants, 

 which consequently come earlier to a state of maturity. 



When French gardeners are pricking out seedlings 

 of Lettuces, Cauliflowers, etc., on the soft beds, they 

 rarely use a dibber or stick. The index-finger is used 

 instead for making holes in the compost, and it is 

 astonishing how rapidly seedling after seedling is 



