224 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



slight compared with the value of the crop. In the case of many 

 seeds, an ounce costs but little more than a packet ; and in such cases, 

 it is the part of wisdom to purchase an ounce, even though a packet 

 might contain sufficient seed to barely plant the desired area. The 

 more expensive seeds may be purchased in smaller quantities, with 

 less margin between the actual amount required and the quantity 

 purchased. (U. 111. B. 154.) 



SEED SOWING. 



Garden seeds should always be sown in straight rows regardless 

 of where the planting is made. If a window box is employed for 

 starting early plants in a dwelling, the soil should be well firmed 

 and then laid off in straight rows about 2 inches apart. The same 

 method holds good for planting seeds in a hotbed, cold frame, or 

 bed in the garden, except that the rows should be farther apart than 

 in the window box. By planting in straight rows the seedlings will 

 be more uniform in size and shape, and thinning and cultivating 

 will be more easily accomplished. In all cases where the soil of the 

 seed bed is not too wet it should be well firmed or pressed down 

 before laying off and marking for sowing the seeds. After the seeds 

 are sown and covered, the surface should again be firmed by means 

 of a smooth board. 



No definite rule can be given for the depth to which seeds 

 should be planted, for the depth should vary with the kind of seed 

 and with the character and condition of the soil. In heavy clay and 

 moist soils the covering should be lighter than in sandy or dry soils. 

 In all cases the depth should be uniform, and when planting seeds 

 in boxes or a bed the grooves in which the seeds are planted should 

 be made with the edge of a thin lath. (F. B. 255.) 



Planting. The most distinctive feature of the garden on the 

 farm should be the reduction of hand labor to a minimum. In 

 planting the garden, therefore, it should be laid out in long rows, 

 sufficiently far apart to permit the use of a horse and cultivator in 

 tending the crops. Time and confusion will also be saved if the 

 vegetables are grouped according to their cultural requirements, and 

 the number of plantings made as small as is consistent with the de- 

 mands of the various crops. Each group of crops may then be 

 planted and tended as one crop, and the garden operations thus 

 greatly simplified. When more than one planting of a given crop 

 is desired for the sake of securing a succession, the second planting 

 may be put in at the same time that other crops are being planted, 

 so that even in this case, the number of plantings need not be multi- 

 plied. The use of two or more varieties of the same vegetable, differ- 

 ing in their time of maturity, will also aid in keeping down the 

 number of different plantings. 



The arrangement of the garden as to length of rows and time 

 of planting, is not the only labor saving feature that should charac- 

 terize the typical farmer's garden. Field methods should be prac- 

 ticed in preparing the land for planting, and as much preliminary 

 work done in the fall as is possible, for the sake of both securing an 

 early garden and reducing the amount of labor in spring. After 



