TYPES OF GARDEN PLANTS 261 



The soil for transplanting should be freshly prepared, in good 

 condition of moisture, and as free from clods as possible. When 

 the young plant is set press the soil down firmly against the roots, 

 then put a little loose soil on top of the packed soil. This will 

 prevent baking and reduce the loss of moisture. Watering at 

 this time helps to pack the soil as well as to cause a quick growth of 

 new roots. Loose soil should always be raked over after watering. 

 Machines are often used in transplanting cabbage, cauliflower, 

 lettuce, and some other plants that are not too brittle (Fig. 180). 



TYPES OF GARDEN PLANTS. Various vegetables grown 

 in gardens may be classified as (1) hardy, not injured by white 

 frost after sprouting; (2) tender vegetables, injured by slight frost 

 either when young, or by early fall frosts. Plants of the hardy 

 group may be started in very early spring as soon as the ground is 

 fit to work, without regard to the possibility of heavy frosts oc- 

 curring later. Seed or plants of the tender group should not be 

 planted in the open until all danger of late spring frosts in past. 

 A number of these plants are started in hotbeds much earlier. 



Tender Plants. Among tender vegetables may be mentioned 

 beans of all kinds, corn, cucumber, egg-plant, muskmelon, okra, 

 pepper, pumpkin, squash, sweet potato, tomato and watermelon. 



Hardy Garden Vegetables. The following is a list of the more 

 common vegetables which may be started in very early spring or 

 can stand at least a light frost: asparagus, beets, cabbage, carrot, 

 cauliflower, celery, cress, endive, horse-radish, kale, lettuce, onions, 

 parsley, potato, parsnip, peas, radish, rhubarb, salsify, spinach, 

 and turnip. See the more detailed classification of garden crops 

 in the next chapter. 



Other Classes. Gardeners often classify plants according to 

 the treatment which they may require. Beans and peas are group- 

 ed together because they often require supports. The vine plants, 

 such as cucumber, muskmelon, watermelon, squash and pumpkin, 

 belong to the gourd family, and are alike in many respects. They 

 have the same insect enemies, and the distance at which they are 

 planted is very great. They are also warm weather crops. 



Root crops, such as beets, rutabagas, carrots, parsnips, salsify 

 and perhaps onions and potatoes require similar soil and soil treat- 

 ment. A number of them have the same soil diseases and are 

 badly affected by too much lime freshly applied. 



Perennial garden plants, such as rhubarb and asparagus, are 

 considered together, because they should be placed at one side of 



