VEGETABLE GARDENING 29 



Examine the seeds daily, and if dry, water with 

 lukewarm water. As soon as the germ shows, 

 plant at once, or there is danger of losing the 

 seed. With most of seeds there will be a gain of 

 six to twelve days in time, and the seedlings will 

 possess surpassing vigor. A fair trial will con- 

 vince any one of the great merits of this method. 



TKAlSTSPLASrTING 



Tomatoes, cabbage, egg plant, cauliflower, cel- 

 ery and peppers are much more satisfactory if 

 transplanted once or twice. They should be first 

 transplanted when they have formed four leaves. 

 Prepare a flat by filling in at least three inches 

 of fine compost with enough soil to give it body. 

 Pick out the plants and set pretty deep and firm 

 in rows two inches apart, and two inches apart 

 in the row. By using flats twenty-four by twen- 

 ty-six inches, 150 plants will just fill a flat. 



After planting, water well, and place in the 

 Plant Incubator with flats sown with fresh seeds 

 placed beneath them. This will usually make 

 them warm enough for healthy growth. A small 

 muslin screen for cover will help. 



When the plants are four inches high, they 

 should be again transplanted to small pots or old 

 strawberry baskets, one plant to each, and set 

 closely in flats which contain an inch of sand, or 

 else if you have it, set them in a cold frame or 

 pit. This, of course, is some trouble, but the 

 greatly increased stockiness and sturdiness of the 

 plants so secured will richly repay the extra 

 labor. For extra early crops of tomatoes, egg 

 plant, cauliflower and peppers, the plants may be 



