26 THE GARDENETTE 



before planting. If the seeds are really worth- 

 less, the fact is discovered in time to secure a 

 fresh supply. Plants started by sprouting pos- 

 sess more vigor, are more sturdy and thrifty, and 

 will thrive and do well when poor, sickly plants 

 would utterly fail. The author uses a home- 

 made machine for sprouting that does the work 

 admirably. 



THE PLANT INCUBATOB 



This is especially useful when early plants can- 

 not be easily obtained from regular growers, or 

 when special varieties are wanted, and the plants 

 must be grown at home. 



The author usually has one to three of these 

 machines in constant use from March to May, for 

 in the latitude of central Ohio, frosts and cold 

 nights make it difficult to grow good early plants. 



With this machine, fine early plants may be had 

 in abundance and great variety, at a small cost. 

 With it in the South, plants may be grown all 

 winter, and be ready to transplant at any time de- 

 sired, regardless of " northers" or sudden cold 

 snaps. 



The machines are heated with common kero- 

 sine lamps at a cost, on an average, of two cents 

 for each twenty-four hours. Usually very little 

 fire will be needed, except during cloudy, cold and 

 windy days, and chilly nights, and by simply 

 lighting the lamps, the plants can be snfely car- 

 ried over spells of unfavorable weather. 



The Plant Incubator consists of a cubical box, 

 two feet each way, with a roomy door in one side. 

 This box forms the lamp chamber. The top is 



