250 



Gardening 



a spring crop if .the roots of young plants are not dis- 

 turbed in transplanting. 



For the spring crop, sow seed from 4 to 8 weeks before 

 the date of the latest frost. Transplant from seed pans to 

 individual pots of small size ; transplant again to larger 

 pots before plants become " pot bound " ; then trans- 

 plant to the field, keeping the roots and earth within the pots 

 intact. Grow in a rich soil, and supply water in abun- 

 dance unless rain is frequent. Plants of the larger vari- 

 eties thus grown will often make heads weighing 7 pounds 

 in 60 days from seed. The heads do not keep well in hot 

 weather, hence the main crop should be grown in autumn. 

 For an autumn crop sow seed late in July in the North 

 and later farther South, directly in the garden. As the 

 plants may be used when partly grown, it is a good plan 



FIG. 138. A spring crop of Chinese cabbage (pe-tsai). This is a new vege- 

 table that is the best of all salad plants. 



