142 GARDENING FOE YOUNG AND OLD. 



best. Sow the seed in rows wide enough apart to admit 

 the use of the hoe, putting in two seeds to each inch ; 

 cover the seed a quarter of an inch deep, and if the soil 

 is dry, pat it down with the back of the spade. As soon 

 as the plants appear, hoe lightly between the rows and 

 keep the bed free from weeds. This is all that need be 

 done until the plants are ready to set out where they are 

 to grow. 



The land for Sage should be dry, loose, and very rich. 

 The plants are small and grow slowly at first. Before 

 taking them out of the seed-bed, the soil should be 

 deeply and carefully broken up with a fork, six or 

 eight inches deep, and the bed thoroughly watered until 

 all the soil to the depth of the sage roots is completely 

 saturated. It requires a good deal of water, but if the 

 work is well done, the young sage plants can be set out 

 even in the hottest weather, and on comparatively dry 

 soil, without the loss of a single plant. 



It is, however, very desirable to make the land very 

 fine and moist, by thorough cultivation. It will usually 

 be found better to plow the land just before setting out 

 the plants, as this will bring to the surface the moist 

 soil. After plowing, roll, harrow, and smooth off the 

 surface. Mark off the rows (if the horse-hoe is to be 

 used), twenty-one to twenty-four inches apart, and set 

 out the plants ten inches apart in the row. 



Where land is valuable, and the crop is to be hand- 

 hoed, the rows need not be more than twelve inches 

 apart. In fact, the better way is, to mark off the land 

 both ways twelve inches apart, and set the plants where 

 the lines cross. If the weather is dry, you must be very 

 careful to press the soil firmly about the roots. Set out 

 the plants so that the lower leaves are just above the sur- 

 face. As soon as the plants get over the effects of trans- 

 planting, go through with a hoe to break the crust and 

 kill the weeds; repeat the operation as often as necessary. 



