Planting 59 



the seedlings are liable to insect attacks, in which case it 

 may be fastened to a plank frame. Lath frames of differ- 

 ent spacings may be used gradually to accustom the seed- 

 lings to the sun. (See Plate V.) 



Seedlings, after growing to a size easily handled, are 

 planted in a bed for further maturing ; this is especially 

 so when large quantities of tomato, cabbage, or celery 

 plants are wanted. The advantage of having these plants 

 in as small a space as practicable is apparent to all. The 

 plant-bed must be fertile, and plenty of water must be at 

 hand to be used in case of need. The ground should be 

 raked carefully, the fertilizer applied, and the bed spaded 

 or plowed and then raked again. The bed should lie a 

 week or ten days to allow the fertilizer to be incorporated, 

 when the plants may be set out. Plants should not be 

 allowed to become checked in their growth at any time. It 

 does plants good to be transferred several times, and with 

 some vegetables such transplanting is profitable; but 

 for plants to come to a standstill for want of water or 

 fertilizer works a detriment that is strikingly noticeable 

 in the crop. Hence, in the transplantings, care should 

 be taken as to moisture, temperature, and soil, so that 

 growth may not be checked. 



PREPARATION OF THE LAND 



To make vegetable-growing a success, it is necessary 

 to select the proper kind of land. Nearly all vegetables 

 like a sandy loam or some other rather light soil, that is 

 at the same time well drained and yet not thirsty. 



