202 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



the young plants appear. The water may be applied either through a 

 sprinkler or by flooding, using only a small stream so that the 

 tender seedlings may not be injured. The amount of irrigation 

 which the beds will need depends largely upon the character of the 

 soil and the season of the year. During the early fall the beds 

 are often irrigated three or four times a week, while later in the 

 season one or two irrigations will prove sufficient. When the plants 

 are one and a half or two inches tall the beds may be weeded and 

 the plants thinned, leaving the distance between the plants not less 

 than one inch. 



Under ordinary conditions the plants remain in the seed-beds 

 six weeks, although the time will vary from one to two months 

 with the season of the year and care of the plants. When planting 

 directly in the field three to four pounds of seed will be sufficient 

 for one acre ; in seed-beds for transplanting at the University Farm 

 Garden, 2600 square feet of seed-beds raised plants enough for 

 one acre. 



When quick-growing plants are desired the seed should be 

 sown in hot-beds in preference to the open beds. This is occa- 

 sionally done during the winter and early spring. 



Lifting the Plants. Plants may be transplanted when they are 

 from two to four inches tall, the larger size being preferable during 

 the warm weather. Before removing, the plants should be hardened 

 by stopping the irrigation a few days in advance so that their 

 growth may be checked. A few hours before the plants are to be 

 removed they should be thoroughly irrigated in order that as much 

 soil and as many fibrous roots as possible may be taken up with the 

 seedlings. There are two methods for removing the plants. Those 

 who have had considerable experience may pull them by hand. 

 Those with limited experience, and especially if the soil is of a 

 heavy nature, should dig them with the aid of a trowel or shovel. 

 The plants should be constantly covered until they are planted in 

 the field and not exposed to the sun. If the seedlings are too large, 

 the leaves and roots should be cut back the top three inches tall 

 and roots two inches long. 



Preparation of the Soil. The soil should be in the finest possi- 

 ble condition and free from all weed growth. Many growers apply 

 from fifteen to twenty-five tons of manure per acre. This should 

 be applied long enough in advance of planting so that it may be 

 plowed under and completely rotted by the time the field is ready 

 for use. In the fall before the rains have commenced, the field 

 should be heavily irrigated before plowing, but in the winter and 

 spring months there is generally a sufficient amount of moisture 

 without irrigation. After the soil has been worked into good con- 

 dition, raised beds or ridges should be made by the use of a special 

 cultivator attachment. The beds should be from twelve to eighteen 

 inches wide, four to six inches high, and the spaces between them 

 ten to fifteen inches extending to main ditches or across the field. 



