66 4 THE FARMERS' HANDBOOK. 



The best method of raising plants is to sow the seed in drills in the 

 seed-bed, allowing about 4 inches between the rows. Plants raised in this 

 manner are usually sturdy, and differ from the lanky plants obtained from 

 beds where the seed has been broadcasted. The seed should be sown thinly, 

 and each ounce of seed should sow a length of about 200 feet. 



Another method sometimes adopted is to sow the seed broadcast in boxes, 

 and when the young plants have two good leaves on they are pricked out 

 and planted into other seed-boxes in rows about 1 inch apart, where they 

 are left until they obtain their fourth leaf. After this the plants are 

 transplanted into rows 4 inches apart in the beds, remaining there until 

 ready for transplanting, being then about 4 or 6 inches high. This method 

 is more often employed for cabbage when seed is raised during the winter 

 months. 



It is advisable to protect the seed-boxes during frosty nights by screening 

 with hessian. The seed-beds should have a north-easterly aspect, and should 

 be protected from the westerly winds. 



The young plants should be watered occasionally in the seed-bed, but 

 should not be forced so as to make them spindly. 



The soil in the seed-bed should be of good texture, and, if possible, a 

 quantity of well-rotted farmyard manure should be incorporated. The 

 organic matter supplied by the manure regulates the water-holding capacity, 

 and also offers less resistance to the tender roots in their development. 

 After the seed has been sown, it is advisable to scatter dry, finely pulverised 

 manure lightly over the surface of the bed. This acts as a mulch, and 

 prevents caking of the surface soil, thus offering no resistance to the young 

 plants when germinating. 



Transplanting. 



If possible, a dull day should be chosen, but with a large area it is impos- 

 sible to choose so carefully. If the weather is very hot and the planting 

 cannot be postponed, it should be done during the latter part of the 

 afternoon. When this is the case part of the morning can be employed in 

 lifting the plants in readiness for afternoon planting. The plants when lifted 

 should be laid straight and covered with wet bags. 



Unless the soil is very dusty and hot, the dibber holes are better left dry 

 until after planting, but the roots should be covered with puddle (liquid mud) 

 to prevent injuiy. After the soil has been pressed firmly round the roots, a 

 quantity of water should be applied in order to give the plants a fair start. 



The quickest method of planting by hand is to have a boy dropping the 

 plants a few holes ahead of the man planting. The boy can then carry the 

 plants in a bucket, so that the roots are constantly in puddle. 



If the plants are somewhat large, it is wise to screw the tops off the leaves. 

 This considerably reduces transpiration, and the roots are able to keep up 

 the supply of moisture needed. 



In America, planting machines have been tried extensively of late, but 

 the bulk of the growers have again fallen back to hand-planting, as they 

 consider this method, although slower, gives more reliable and better results. 

 One of these machines has been used in the Moss Vale district. The 

 machine requires a driver and two lads to drop plants. A barrel of water is 

 carried, and at each click which marks the time for dropping a plant, about 

 half a pint of water is delivered into the furrow. As the lads cannot 

 always drop the plants just at the right moment, the water is usually allowed 

 to run all the time. 



