172 Gardening 



other conditions of the garden should be determined in 

 advance of planting at the time when the garden plan is 

 made (see Chapter 8). Suggestions as to the proper 

 spacing of rows and of plants in the row will be given in 

 the directions for the culture of the various crops. 



Depth of planting. If seeds are planted too deep, they 

 may die and rot because they are too wet and too cold 

 and do not have enough air. If they are planted' too 

 shallow, there is danger that they will dry out or be 

 washed out by heavy rains. 



Different kinds of seeds have different germination 

 needs and must be .planted at different depths. Corn, 

 peas, and beans should be planted 2 or 3 inches deep ; 

 seeds of beets, cucumbers, squashes, and melons about 

 i inch deep; and small seeds like those of carrots, 

 radishes, lettuce, and parsnips only about \ inch. The 

 seedlings from the smaller seeds are not so strong as those 

 of larger seeds and hence are not able to push their stems 

 and first leaves ,up through so much soil. But one 

 cannot follow exactly any " rule of thumb " in planting. 

 Under the discussion of the various crops later, sugges- 

 tions as to planting will be given. However, it is well 

 to remember that, generally speaking, seeds should be 

 planted deeper in a loose, warm soil than in a cold, heavy 

 soil; and later in the season when the ground is warm 

 they should be planted somewhat deeper than in early spring. 

 Peas might well be planted 3 inches deep in light, sandy 

 soil, but not more than i inch deep in heavy soils. 



Covering seeds. After sowing, the seeds should be 

 covered with soil, and usually this soil should be firmed 

 about the seeds. Firming brings the soil particles close 



