GAINING TIME IN EARLY SPRING 



as shown in ( Fig. 23 ) . Not only are the plants 

 protected from light frosts but they are 

 screened from insects. Tomatoes, eggplants, 

 and peppers are commonly treated in this way. 



Hardening the Plants. In order to get 

 the best crop of any vegetable in both quality 

 and quantity, it is necessary to keep it growing 

 from the time the seed germinates until it ma- 

 tures. Therefore it should not receive a shock 

 on being transplanted to the open from a warm 

 window. A week or more before transplant- 

 ing, increase the ventilation by opening the 

 windows, a little at first and then wide, or 

 place the flat out of doors in the middle of the 

 day for a few hours, adding one hour or more 

 of exposure each day until the plants are ac- 

 customed to the atmospheric conditions out of 

 doors. Decrease the watering so that the 

 plant gets accustomed to the rainfalls and 

 periods of drought. In other words gradually 

 accustom the plant to the conditions under 

 which it is to mature. 



Transplanting. Just before removing the 

 117 



