VII 

 PLANTING THE GARDEN 



Do not plant too early. While the ground is 

 becoming warm and dry enough, lettuce and 

 radishes and onions may be grown in the hotbed. 

 This satisfactory garden adjunct is always used 

 for starting certain tender plants and those that 

 require a longer season than the open ground 

 would allow. Planting in the garden may be de- 

 ferred until fairly warm weather has come, when 

 the soil crumbles easily and, beneath the surface, 

 it is not cold to the touch. Beware our cold 

 springs and treacherous late frosts. If the gar- 

 dener is in a great hurry, seed may be sown on 

 rows ridged up high enough to allow the sunshine 

 and warm air of mid-day to penetrate the soil. 

 The earliest seeding should nearly always be made 

 on ridged rows. By that means, a few rather 

 tender varieties may be started sooner, if suf- 

 ficient protection can be furnished for cold windy 

 days and colder nights. The long-season sturdy 

 vegetables, like parsnips and salsify, may go in 

 as soon as the soil is prepared, without much 

 regard to temperature. However, as a rule, early 

 planting takes quite a risk of entire failure; and 



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