Appendix E 461 



stand about 1 inch apart. Sow enough seed in rows of sufficient 

 length, so that when properly thinned there will remain about 

 300 plants. If thinned to 1 inch apart, this will require rows 

 aggregating 25 feet long. Be careful to keep the seeds from 

 each head or plant separate from one another and plainly labeled. 



After the seed is sown, water the seed boxes carefully, using a 

 fine spray, in order to prevent washing the seed out. A good 

 method is to cover the soil with an open mesh cloth, such as 

 cheese cloth, and sprinkle the water on this until the soil is 

 thoroughly wet. Then place the seed box in the shade in a moist 

 place, such as the north side of the house. It is a good practice 

 to keep the boxes covered with paper or glass, until the young 

 plants begin to appear. It is important to keep them moist at 

 all times. When the young plants are well up, thin them to 

 about one inch apart in the rows, leaving the strongest plants. 



The plants should be kept in boxes until about the 20th of 

 September, when they should be planted in the field. About a 

 week before transplanting they should be gradually exposed to 

 the full sunlight in order to harden them up. At this time each 

 plant should have 2 or 3 leaves, 3 or 4 inches long. 



3. Transplanting into the field. Choose a place in the field 

 where the plants may remain for at least two years without 

 being disturbed. Set the plants two feet apart in rows that 

 are four feet apart. By this method the greater part of the 

 cultivation can be done with a horse cultivator. In transplant- 

 ing the seedlings from the boxes, a time must be chosen shortly 

 after a rain, when the soil is well moistened. The plants should 

 be set out about the 20th of September, if possible, so that they 

 may become well rooted before winter comes on. It may be 

 necessary to hoe them before winter, but this is not likely if the 

 land is well prepared before planting. 



If 10 heads were originally chosen and 50 plants are grown 

 from each head, there should be 10 rows 100 feet long, which 

 would occupy a piece of land 40 X 100 feet. 



