4& MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



with boards till the seeds begin to sprout. It is also well to 

 soak the seeds in warm water for a few hours before sowing. 

 There is little doubt that as a rule better results will be obtained 

 in germinating most vegetable seeds if the soil is kept only 

 moderately wet. Seeds must have air as well as moisture in 

 order to germinate. 



As the young plants begin to develop, transplant them into 

 rows three inches apart, leaving about a half-inch space 

 between the plants. In case some of the plants become too 

 large before the ground is suitable for setting them in the field,, 

 the}" may be sheared back without harm. The process of 

 "hardening off" should of course be observed. By this we 

 mean that the plants should gradually be made accustomed to 

 lower temperature before removal to the field. 



For the main crop the seed is sown out of doors from the 

 middle of April to the first of June. In this case a sheltered 

 location is chosen, a fine seed-bed is prepared and the seed sown 

 broadcast and lightly raked in, or sown thinly in drills and 

 simply rolled. It is then well to provide a screen of lath or 

 brush to protect the young plants and prevent destruction of the 

 seed. If the plants are thinned somewhat in weeding, and are 

 sheared back as they begin to grow too large, transplanting may 

 sometimes be dispensed with, but the plants are better if 

 handled once as described above. 



If only a few hundred piar.:; are to be grown, they may be 

 bough: zheaper :i:an :'r.ey :ar. be raised, bu: if a iarge ::urr.ber 

 are required the plants should be home grown. 



CULTURE IN THE FIELD. 



The plants for the main crop will be ready to transfer to the 

 field early in July. They are usually placed six inches apart in 

 rows five feet distant. The old practice of setting the plants in 

 trenches is little followed at the present time. 



If the rows are sufficiently far apart, the after culture is best 

 done with a horse, but in no case should deep cultivation be per- 

 Jtiitted, as the roots extend through all the space between the 

 rows and should not be disturbed. In short, until time of 

 "handling," the culture need not be essentially different from 

 that given to potatoes. 



