MANAGEMENT OF TRANSPLANTED PLANTS 87 



Another use in southern states is the forcing of vegetables in 

 spring. (Fig. 60.) Enough heat from the sun may be obtained 

 through the glass cover of the coldframe to start such tender crops 

 as tomatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. That is to 

 say, in many sections no bottom heat is required for the forcing of 

 such plants in time for transplanting to the garden. 



Pits for Flowers and Vegetables. — Many gardeners construct 

 pits two feet or more in depth for keeping vegetables over winter. 

 Sometimes these pits are four or five feet deep and are walled up 

 with brick, wood, or other material. They may be covered with 

 glass over which is placed straw mats, old carpets, or other protec- 

 tive material. In favorable weather all the cover is removed except 

 the glass and the plants are stimulated by the light and air. They 

 are protected from the extreme cold by being below the surface of 

 the ground and well housed. 



Some Special Uses of Deep Pits. — As winter approaches, the 

 flower gardener may take up a number of choice specimens which 

 he desires to keep active through the winter season. Among such 

 plants would be violets, or pansies placed in boxes, chrysanthe- 

 mums or carnations transplanted to pots or boxes, and many others. 

 House plants which may be desired for later use in propagating new 

 flowering crops may be stored throughout the winter in such pits. 

 For example, this might be an ideal place for storing old geranium 

 plants from which cuttings are to be made later. 



The vegetable gardener often uses deep pits of this kind for 

 storing and perhaps blanching crates of celery transplanted into 

 shallow soil in crates or old orange boxes. Even in the northern 

 states, flats of growing head lettuce and other crops may be finished 

 in deep pits provided they are located in sunny exposures. 



Deep pits are sometimes used for the first starting of bulbs, such 

 as Dutch hyacinths, and others which do not require much heat. 

 The bulbs are placed in pots of wet sand or soil and covered in the 

 bottoms of these pits. This will save cellar room which might 

 otherwise be used for this purpose. 



Management of Transplanted Plants. — The plan for shifting 

 and final transplanting to the open garden of vegetables is often 

 a puzzle to the beginner. The number of shiftings in the beds of 

 the different kinds of plants is shown in the accompanying table. 

 The dates are those published by the Illinois Station (Circular 216) 

 for Central Illinois, and allowance must be made for localities 

 farther north or. south. 



