ANNUALS 127 



they are generally exposed on three or four 

 sides,- and moisture taken up by the soil quickly 

 evaporates, leaving the plants dry and thirsty. 

 Then remember, too, that the smaller the box 

 the more rapid is the evaporation, the more 

 cramped are the roots, and the more quickly is 

 the plant food in the soil exhausted when over- 

 crowded. 



THE PROPER BOX 



In a word, begin properly by constructing 

 the proper sort of box. Do not be niggardly 

 with the lumber, and do not be fearful of get- 

 ting the box too deep or too wide. Of course, 

 in most instances, the planter — especially if he 

 be the owner of his own home — ^must be gov- 

 erned largely by conditions; he must construct 

 his boxes to fit these conditions. But before he 

 begins let him examine carefully the conditions, 

 with a view to making the most of them. Often 

 what seems to be impossible, on reflection be- 

 comes possible, and where it appears at first 

 that only a small box could be employed it be- 

 comes apparent that by some other arrange- 

 ment than the first contemplated, a larger box 

 can be used. 



Boxes one foot deep and one foot wide, in- 

 side dimensions, are not too large. As for 



