General Greenhouse Culture 



firmed around the roots, so that the plant will remain erect after setting. In 

 light soils, the best planters use their fists for firming, pounding the earth 

 lightly around the neck of the plant, and especially around the roots. A 

 broad, shallow hole should be made, and the roots of the plant spread 

 out so that they occupy about the same relative position to the top as was 

 occupied when growing in the field. 



Watering the Bench After Planting 



After planting comes another most important operation that of water- 

 ing. Some writers have recommended soaking the bench thoroughly in order 

 to set the soil, putting the water on so heavily that it will run through the 

 bottom of the bench. I have found this method to be seriously objectionable, 

 and many plants have been lost by stem rot whenever it was practiced. When 

 planting, I much prefer to depend on firming the soil with the hand and fist 

 to firming it by soaking with water. We have found that the best results have 

 been secured when a light watering was given immediately after planting in. 

 As soon as the soil has properly assimilated and distributed this water, an- 

 other light watering is afforded, which is followed up during the daytime until 

 the bench is nicely moistened throughout ; but the soil is not sodden, nor has 

 it been so compacted by a sudden drenching of water as to render it muddy 

 and impervious to aeration. 



Shading 



Previous to planting, the greenhouses should be shaded sufficiently to 

 modify the action of the sun to such an extent as to prevent the wilting of the 

 plants. This shading should not be too dense, as if the plants are shaded too 

 much they will be considerably softened and will withstand the sun much less 

 effectively when the shading is removed. We have practiced using a shade 

 that will wash off during rain storms and leave the houses light and clean 

 during cloudy weather. Fire-clay, or any ordinary clean clay, has been em- 

 ployed with great success. It can be easily applied at the end of cloudy 

 weather by spraying it upon the glass with a syringe, and thus the shading 

 may be renewed and kept on until the plants have become established, when 

 it should be allowed to wear off gradually. There should be no shade 

 upon the houses in the early part of October, but the glass should be 

 thoroughly clean and bright, so that the plants will have all the light possible 

 during the short days of the fall and winter. After planting, when the 

 bench soil has become nicely moist throughout, water should be withheld, 

 a slight spraying only being necessary until root action has set in and the 



44 



