96 



House & Garden 



Compitlt in liuo rceh — tke 

 story of starting seeds, begin- 

 ning with drainage 



The soil is put in tind firmed 



down with the bottom of a 



glass tumbler or m:asure 



Then the seed is scattered 



on the surface direct from the 



containing envelope 



The measure comes in again 



to press the seed lightly down 



into the soil surface 



GIVING THE GARDEN A RUNNING START 



Vegetable Seed P/aiitiiig Indoors So As to Produce Thrifty Crops Tzvo Weeks 



in Advance of the Ordinary Season 



GRAN I'EU ;i hotbed or a sunny window 

 in the house in which to place them, the 

 first essential in starting vegetable seeds espe- 

 cially early in the season is proper soil. It 

 should be light and very finely pulverized so 

 thac the tiny roots can penetrate it readily. 

 Special enrichment, however, is not necessary 

 — in fact, should be avoided. 



Next come the "flats" or shallow boxes in 

 which the soil is to be placed. These should 

 be 2" or 3" deep, with holes protected by bits 

 of broken crock in the Ijottom to provide for 

 the escape of any surplus water which may 

 work down through the soil. Whether tlie soil 

 is put in flats, or directly in the hotbed, it 

 should have under it a layer of some coarse, 

 porous material like cinders or sphagnum moss, 

 to make the drainage more quick and certain. 



In filling the flats, care should be taken to 

 press the soil in firmly. Then water it thor- 

 oughly, after which it should be left until dry 

 enough to mark off on the surface with a small 

 stick a number of very shallow rows about 

 2" apart for the seeds. 



Se^ds such as cabbage and lettuce should 

 be covered only Y^" deep; beets may go a 

 little deeper; fine flower seeds should be gently 

 pressed down into the soil surface and barely 

 dusted over with soil. 



For several days after planting the tempera- 

 ture where the flats are should not fall below 

 55° at night and 10" or so more during the 

 day. This high temjjerature tends to dry the 

 soil out quickly, so glass may be laid over the 

 tops of the flats to conserve the moisture. 



Once the little seedlings have broken ground. 



they should have a few degrees lower tempera- 

 ture, abundant sunlight and plenty of fresh 

 air. Ever}- morning, unless there is a severe 

 storm, the windows (or sash, if the flats are 

 in a hotbed or coldframe) should be opened 

 enough to give a complete change of air without 

 subjecting the tiny plants to a cold draft. The 

 temperature should never be above 70° or 80° 

 for any length of time, and watering must be 

 done with a very fine spray in the early fore- 

 noon of bright days. 



Transplanting to other flats should l>e done 

 when the second true leaves appear. The seed- 

 lings should be set 2" or 3" apart each way. 

 Move them ven,- carefully so as not to break 

 their rootlets. Before they are set out in the 

 open garden they must be gradually 'hardened 

 off" bv giving more and more fresh, cool air. 



/•;«>' Mi;7 I . //.-i II iiti 4 on top 

 so as to cover the seed com- 

 pletely from sight 



Wittering with a clean spray 



gun follows, the fine spray not 



disturbing the soil 



When the seedlings reach 



transplanting size, they are 



moved 'with a flat stick 



The first transplanting is into 



a fiat which holds them -while 



hardening-off 



