INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 25 



watering-pot ; the hoe following immediately between the 

 rows, which preserves a fine, open surface, and allows the 

 entrance of light, air, and moisture into the soil. Particular 

 care should be taken to make the young plants quite firm in 

 the ground after disturbance by weeding, thinning, or cultiva- 

 tion. 



Water is another provision that must have attention when 

 the soil becomes at all dry. Before the water-pot is used, 

 however, and during showery weather, an occasional dusting 

 of artificial manure may be applied to the ground between 

 the rows, and gently hoed, raked, or forked in. This is unneces- 

 sary where steady growth is being maintained. 



Disease belongs more to the adult than to the younger plants, 

 as a rule, although, of course, the latter are liable to be attacked ; 

 insects are the enemies that seedlings suffer from 

 Enemies most, as the tender leaves and shoots of the imma- 

 of ture plants are very attractive to them. Such 



Seedlings attacks must be guarded against and prevented, at 

 all costs ; for once the little plants are robbed of 

 their foliage, their chances of proving useful in the future are 

 almost nil. Soot may be liberally sprinkled upon the foliage 

 as a preventive ; whilst salt, lime, soot, and flue-ashes may be 

 also used effectively upon the ground. 



The use of the hoe and hand-fork should keep pace with 

 the growth of the plants. Neglect of cultivation is often the, 

 ruin of what would otherwise be a fine crop ; in fact, cultivation 

 of the soil is really more important than manuring the soil, 

 in many cases, especially on heavy clays. 



Transplanting and planting out are two operations often 

 imperfectly done. The first applies chiefly to the removal 

 of plants from the seed-bed to the nursery or 

 Transplanting permanent quarters, and requires care and 

 and skill. If a thin-pronged fork be inserted at 



Planting Out the edge of the seed-bed or drill, and the soil 

 gently raised, the plants therein may be removed 

 with a small ball of earth attached to the roots, especially if 

 the bed is moist at the time. Holes in the new quarters may be 

 made with a dibble or trowel, and filled with water a few minutes 

 before the planting takes place. Then each plant should be 

 inserted carefully, holding it with one hand whilst filling the 

 earth in with the other ; finishing by gentle pressure all around 

 the collar of the plant with the fingers or point of the trowel or 

 dibble. Transplanting or " pricking out " from boxes and 



