136 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



is given, the lights are put on the frames, and are 

 covered with mats. This is to ensure rapid germina- 

 tion, which is necessary to prevent the plants running 

 to seed afterwards, and takes place in about forty- 

 eight hours or less, if the seeds are not too old. 

 Once the young plants appear, the mats are put on 

 at night and taken off as early as possible in the 

 morning, and the lights are tilted a little to admit 

 fresh air on all occasions when the weather is favour- 

 able. 



Pricking out. About ten or fifteen days after the 

 seeds have been sown, the young plants will be ready 

 for pricking out, either with the finger or a small stick. 

 For this purpose another hot-bed, similar to the first, 

 must have been prepared, the only difference being 

 that the surface of the mould spread over the manure 

 must be from 4 to 5 in. away from the glass. The 

 young plants are spaced out 2 to 3 in. from each 

 other all ways, and are buried up to the seed-leaves 

 in the soil. The seedlings are gently watered with a 

 fine-rosed waterpot, and after the lights are put on 

 the frames they are not opened for two or three days, 

 until the young plants have recovered. The mats, 

 of course, are put on every night and taken off every 

 day, and a little air is given to strengthen the plants 

 on fine days. 



Transplanting. From two to three weeks that is, 

 about the middle of November after the young 

 Endives have been pricked out as above, they will 

 be large enough for transplanting finally. This will 

 be done on another prepared bed having a temperature 

 of 70 to 80 Fahr. The manure in the hot-bed should 

 be covered with a compost about 6 in. thick, made up 



