180 GARDEN GUIDE 



When the apple trees are in blossom, sow the tenderest seeds — 

 Beans, Sweet Corn, Cucumbers, Okra, Melons, Pumpkins and Squash. 



After all danger from late frost is past, set out growing plants of 

 Tomatoes, Peppers, Egg Plants, Pole Beans, Melons, Cucumbers, 

 Sweet Corn and Okra. 



Poor germination results are often due to the fact that seeds are 

 loosely covered in the soil. They should be well firmed and covered. 

 Firming can generally be done well enough with the back of the hoe or 

 rake. 



For neatness make every row straight, using your garden line and 

 reel frequently. Tag every row as soon as it is sown or planted, mark- 

 ing on the date as well as the name of the variety. You will thus be 

 able to keep track of the time required for the different varieties to 

 mature, which will be of great value to you in succeeding years. 



Transplanting 



Transplanting should be done preferably during showery weather, 

 or in the late afternoon, and the plants will take hold more quickly. If 

 they are shaded in some way for a few days, especially if the weather 

 is windy and sunny, all the better. An irrigation system is of the 

 greatest benefit, in transplanting or planting, as the work can be done 

 at any time with an almost positive certainty of success. In all trans- 

 planting the soil ought to be pressed firmly. 



Seeds may be sown directly in the soil, but usually it is better to 

 sow in "flats" or seed pans, which can be moved about from one sash 

 to another and handled more conveniently in transplanting. Small 

 seeds should be barely covered from sight, while larger ones should be 

 covered to the depth mentioned a few paragraphs back. It is important 

 to press the seed firmly into the soil when sowing. Label each variety 

 carefully and water with a fine spray so as not to wash out the seeds. 



As soon as the little seedlings are up it will be necessary to give 

 some fresh air every day or two to keep them healthy and vigorous, 

 the temperature being kept at from 60 to 75 deg. according to the 

 things being grown. As soon as the first two or three true leaves ap- 

 pear, the seedlings should be transplanted, either into other "flats" or 

 into the frames, setting them from two to three inches apart each way 

 so they will have plenty of room. 



During this season watering should be done only on bright morn- 

 ings so that the soil wiU have a chance to dry off" before night, as this 

 will lessen the danger of "damping off." Avoid over-watering, as the 

 soil dries out very slowly when the sashes have to be kept on most of 

 the time. 



