528 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



frames the compacting of the soil is usually accomplished by the 

 use of a float, which consists of a piece of board about 6 inches wide 

 and 9 or 10 inches long, with a handle attached. 



For all conditions save in the open, seeds may be sown in seed 

 pans or in flats, which can be very cheaply constructed. These boxes 

 can be very conveniently made from the pine boxes largely used for 

 packing canned goods, soaps, etc., usually 9 or 10 inches deep, which 

 is sufficient to allow of cutting them with a ripsaw into three sections 

 each about 3 inches high. The top and bottom of the box will each 

 make a complete flat, while the middle section will be a frame which 

 can be provided with a bottom by the destruction of a box for each 

 three sections. Seeds may also be planted directly in the soil of the 

 hotbed, cold frame, or in that upon the greenhouse bench. They 

 may be sown broadcast or, preferably, in rows. 



In covering seeds the rule under artificial conditions is to bury 

 the seed to the depth of its greatest diameter. In outdoor culture, 

 however, this is not the practice; seeds are usually covered about 

 three to five times their diameter. With seeds the size of a grain of 

 wheat it is, in general, safe to plant them 1 inch deep, and for those 

 the size of beans 2 inched deep. Small seeds like those of petunia, 

 tobacco, etc., should be scattered over the surface and the soil com- 

 pacted with a float. 



Transplanting. The young seedling plants which are to be 

 grown for their bloom should, as soon as the first true leaves are 

 formed, be transplanted so that they will stand at some distance 

 from one another. For small, rather slow-growing, plants, such as 

 pansies, 1 inch apart each way will afford ample room, but with 

 most plants 2 inches each way will be best, while with robust-growing 

 plants, like the castor bean, 4 inches will not be too much. With 

 such plants, however, it is best to place the seeds directly in pots or 

 cans in order to prevent disturbing the roots of the young seedlings 

 and to afford them ample space. Transplanting has a tendency to 

 make the plants stocky and affords opportunity for the development 

 of an extensive root system. 



The pleasure derived from floral decorations depends not only 

 upon the perfection of the flowers, but upon having a continuous 

 display throughout the season. With most of the garden annuals 

 early bloom can not be secured if seed sowing in the open must be 

 relied upon exclusively. Fortunately the gardener's art has devised 

 cheap and efficient means for, at it were, anticipating nature. By the 

 use of cold frames in the South and' hotbeds in the North the season 

 can be advanced several weeks. 



(Additional References Consulted. F. B. 185 ; F. B. 195 ; Y. B. 

 1897; Nev. E. S. B. 61 ; Vt. E. S. B. 145; S. Dak. E. S. B. 64; Ariz. 



E. S. B. 85; Tuskegee E. S. B. 16; Nev. E. S. B. 24; Wyo. E. S. B. 

 50; Mich. E. S. B. 186; Mass. E. S. B. 147; Cornell E. S. B. 128; 



F. B. 185; B. P. I. B. 120; Cornell E. S. B. 147; B. P. I. B. 39; Md. 

 E. S. B. 127; Md. E. S. B. 158; Minn. E. S. B. 38; Cornell E. S. B. 

 55; Cornell E. S. B. 96; Minn. E. S. B. 7; 0. E. S. B. 43; Nev. E. S. 

 B. 61.) 



