136 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



of the bed, and making one end of the board true with that line, the 

 sides of the board will mark two parallel lines across the bed and 

 notches cut at desired distances in the sides of the board will show 

 where the plants are to be set. If the board is carefully used the 

 bed may be quickly set with plants which will stand in straight lines 

 both ways. Standing on the board while planting prevents impact- 

 ing the ground surface and disfiguring it with foot-prints. 



Plants Ready Grown in Hills for Transplanting. All seed- 

 lings which it is desirable to grow in groups or hills are very neatly 

 and safely handled by Mr. Adams by the use of inverted sods in 

 connection with his hot-box already described. About the first of 

 April in Napa valley he takes sods of native growth six inches 

 square and four inches deep or he grows in seed boxes alfalfa sods 

 which will form sufficiently in six weeks from sowing the seed. 

 He makes a temporary floor of old boards and places it on top of 

 the packed manure of his hot-box. The inverted sods are then 

 packed closely on this floor with the grass gathered in nicely under 

 each sod. Exactly in the middle of each inverted sod thrust a 

 small stick, and after scarifying each sod thoroughly an inch or 

 two in depth with an old caseknife, carefully put over the whole 

 bed two inches of rich compost, made of fine creek sand, and de- 

 cayed sods, a year or two old, mixed with fine sweepings from the 

 cow-yard gathered in summer and protected from winter rains. 

 Tamp this prepared soil pretty firmly with the back of a hoe, and 

 plant the seeds an inch or so in depth around each stick which 

 serves to indicate the middle of each sod. Plant six to eight seeds 

 in a hill, leaving finally three of the strongest plants. A box three 

 by two feet will hold twenty-four sods. 



By this method Mr. Adams quickly gets a full family outfit 

 ready to transplant in hills from one hot-box. He finds two hills of 

 cucumbers, six of muskmelons, six of watermelons, and ten hills of 

 pole beans, or eight hills of beans and two hills of summer squashes 

 will furnish a family of five all or more than they can possibly 

 consume, and some to sell or give away besides, if the plants are 

 well taken care of. The box for early plants should be placed on 

 the south side of a shed or barn in order to protect it from strong 

 north winds, heavy cold rains, as well as danger of frost, and water 

 as needed with lukewarm water. Transplant the sods when safe 

 bv running a wide shingle or spade on the floor under each sod. 



