368 



VEGETABLE GARDENING 



"The soil is made firm and allowed to come slightly 

 above the top of the boxes in the hotbed. It is then 

 marked out in squares in such a way that the intersec- 

 tion of the marks center the boxes. The seed bed is 

 now ready. After putting in the seed, careful attention 

 is given to watering, to ventilation and to keeping out 

 weeds. A day temperature is maintained at first of 50 

 to 60 degrees. As the time for transplanting draws near 



FIG. 88. STARTING MUSKMELONS IN FRAMES 



more air is given in order to harden off the young plants. 

 The seedlings are moved about in the beds to fill possi- 

 ble vacancies, and by the time they are ready to trans- 

 plant a perfect stand has been secured with one plant 

 in a hill. (Figure 88.) 



"Several plans for watering are in successful use. A 

 common method is to mount a tank on trucks and drive 

 along the hotbeds, watering through a lead of hose, pro- 

 vided with a rosette. Some growers, whose beds are 



