104 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



Plants taken directly from the greenhouse or hot-bed, where 

 they have been making rapid, watery growth, will succumb 

 to a low temperature much more quickly than those that 

 have been toughened to exposure to the air and low tem- 

 peratures. This is no less true of the tender things like 

 tomatoes and egg-plants, than of the hardy crops such as 

 cabbage, lettuce and beets, which were set out last month. 

 It often happens that between the end of April and the 

 middle of May, after a comparatively warm spell, a frosty 

 night comes along. Several expedients that may be fallen 

 back upon in such an emergency, and a few minutes' work, 

 will often suffice to save the early plantings of wrinkled 

 peas, potatoes, beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers and egg- 

 plants. The things in rows, like potatoes and beans, may 

 be covered with dirt for protection. This may be done with 

 a double-wheel hoe, the hilling attachment being set with 

 the points out so that a A -shaped ridge is formed over the 

 row. To protect larger plants, newspapers, either laid 

 across or twisted up into cornucopias and held in place by 

 a few handfuls of earth, will be found very effective. Empty 

 tin cans or flower pots may be used to cover small plants. 

 A quickly constructed shelter for a batch of plants may be 

 made of a few boards or poles rested on boxes or barrels, 

 with heavy bags or blankets thrown over them. Any plants 

 that get nipped should be kept shaded from the sun the 

 following morning and thoroughly doused with cold water. 

 If irrigation is available spray the plants for an hour or so 

 before the sun hits them in the morning. 



Planting in Dry Weather 



It sometimes happens that dry weather sets in after the 

 early planting has been done and the surface of the soil, at 

 least, is quite dried out by the time it is safe to put in the 

 tender crops. Sometimes it is so dry that every precaution 

 possible must be taken in order to secure a full stand from 

 either seeds or plants. Then the gardener who has pre- 

 pared his plot thoroughly and has kept it harrowed or 

 raked over whenever a crust formed, will find his trouble 



