4 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



as a cigar box, or a flat for a larger number, and plant fifty 

 or a hundred seeds in each row. A more convenient way is 

 to place the seed between pieces of moist blotting paper, or 

 on a wad of cotton in a tumbler with a little water in the 

 bottom. Planting in the soil, of course, corresponds more 

 nearly to the conditions under which the seeds will be 

 planted and gives a better idea of the percentage of germina- 

 tion that may be expected. Of most kinds at least eighty 

 per cent, and in a majority of cases ninety per cent, should 

 sprout readily. Be sure that the soil is never allowed to 

 dry out. 



In looking over your implements do not be content with 

 merely being able to find things. They should be tuned up 

 to work as well as new. First, get them sharp; on all tools 

 with blades you should maintain a cutting edge. If your 

 various tools of this character hoes, wheel-hoe blades, 

 weeders, sickels, scythes, and so forth are in very bad 

 shape, the services of grindstone or emery wheel will be re- 

 quired; if they simply need "touching up" whetstone and 

 file will answer the purpose. 



Paint is Cheaper Than New Implements 



Second, you must fight rust at every possible point, not 

 only because it will wear your tools out much faster than 

 hard use but because it interferes with your work. Take off 

 all of the nuts on the various attachments, soak them in 

 kerosene until they can be made clean, then put on a little 

 heavy oil or vaseline and work them until they can readily 

 be turned on and off and any desired changes made without 

 trouble. 



After use for a season or two the larger tools, such as 

 the wheel hoe, seed-drill and wheelbarrow, will usually 

 show many spots where the paint has been knocked 

 off or has peeled off, allowing a foothold for rust. Rub 

 down the edges of the raw spots with sandpaper or a wire 

 brush, wipe the rest of the machine off clean and dry, and 

 give the whole a light coat of paint over such portions as 



