146 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



a warm sheltered border, a raised bed, or an old hot- 

 bed protected by cloches or lights. When sown on a 

 border the soil is first of all deeply dug and then levelled 

 with the rake. The surface is covered over with a 

 good inch or more of mould made up of old manure 

 and gritty soil passed through a sieve. 



The seeds are sown fairly thick, and lightly covered 

 with the gritty mould, after which the seed-bed is 

 gently patted down to bring the soil and seeds into 

 closer contact. If inclined to be too dry, the seed- 

 bed is gently watered to settle the soil and encourage 

 germination. 



When the seeds are to be sown under cloches, each 

 little seed-bed is marked out by pressing down a 

 cloche upon the prepared surface of the soil so that 

 the imprint of its circumference is plainly seen. After 

 sowing, the seeds are lightly covered with fine soil. 

 The cloches are then placed over them, taking care 

 to press the rims firmly into the soil to exclude air 

 and to check evaporation. Germination at this period 

 of the year usually takes place under the cloches in a 

 few days. If the sun happens to be too ardent at the 

 time, the cloches should be shaded with litter or mats, 

 but no air is given. When, however, the young plants 

 appear, shading must only be given when the sun 

 becomes too hot, otherwise the plants become " drawn " 

 and pale in colour. 



Pricking out. When the seed-leaves or cotyledons 

 are well developed and the first true leaves begin to 

 form, French gardeners prepare to prick out the young 

 plants, either on a raised bed or " ados " (see p. 13), 

 or under cloches or lights. 



In the case of a raised bed this should be well ex- 



