12 BULLETIN 392^ U. S, DEPARTMElsTT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



LESSON EIGHT. 



TOPICS: HARDENING OFF PLANTS; PREPARING LAND AND TRANSPLANTING. 



months: march to may. 



Lesson outline. — Hardening off plants. Where plants are grown in 

 a hotbed they should be hardened before being set in the open. This 

 can be done by transferring the plants from the hotbed to the cold 

 frame or by removing the hotbed sash during the day. As the plants 

 become hardened the cover may be kept off at night when there is no 

 danger of frost. Boxes and tin cans may be used for developing the 

 plants. 



Preparing land and transplanting: Thoroughly harrow the soil. 

 Mark off the rows about 4 feet apart for horse cultivation; 3 feet apart 

 for hand cultivation. If plants are to be pruned to one or two stems 

 and tied to stakes or trellises, set them 2 to 3 feet apart. If the plants 

 are not to be pruned and staked, set them 3 to 4 feet apart. Before 

 removing plants from the hotbed or cold frame, thoroughly soak the 

 bed in order that considerable soil will adhere to . the roots of the 

 plants. Take up plants with trowel or spade and pack in boxes to 

 carry to the field or plat. Set plants in the furrow and pack the soil 

 around them. Finish filling the furrow with a turn plow or hoe. 



Study questions : What methods are used to harden plants ? Why 

 should plants be hardened before setting in the open ? What is the 

 distance between rows ? Between plants ? Why should the soil of 

 the hotbed or cold frame be thoroughly moistened before plants are 

 removed ? Should the soil be moistened around the plants where set 

 in the field ? Why should dry soil be spread over the moistened area ? 



References. — Farmers' Buls. 220, pp. 9, 16; 642, pp. 6, 7; 255, and 

 647. 



Practical exercises. — The members of the class who are growing 

 tomatoes should harden their plants and get them in condition to set 

 in the open. By removing the plants from hotbeds to cold frames 

 (tin cans or boxes), they may be given greater distance and encour- 

 aged to grow more rapidly. As a rule the plants should not be set in 

 the open before May. However, in the far South they may be set as 

 early as March or April. In southern Florida planting in the fall is 

 practiced. 



Correlations. — Copy in the class notebook answers to "study 

 questions." Develop further problems on the cost of fertilizers and 

 the number of plants required to set given areas. An accurate record 

 of labor, cost of fertihzers, seed, and the like, should be kept in a 

 bound book. 



