THE SCHOOL GARDEN 275 



attempt to make a garden, even where the conditions for the 

 summer are impromising. Our field crops generally have 

 to get along without watering in the worst of droughts, and 

 the grains cannot be cultivated. Even so a school garden 

 can worry through the summer. In case no special care 

 can be given through the vacation, only the hardiest plants 

 should be planted. 



Starting Seeds Indoors: Time can be saved and 

 flowers and vegetables obtained earlier by starting seeds in 

 the house, cold-frame, or hot-bed. But though the seeds 

 are planted two months earlier than those sown outdoors, 

 the flowers will not appear that much earlier, perhaps only 

 half as much earlier. The checking on transplanting to a 

 cooler atmosphere usually retards the growth somewhat. 



Pansies, asters, nasturtiums, lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, 

 tomato, etc., are thus started early in March. Sow the seed 

 in shallow boxes of earth, grape baskets, etc. Keep moist at 

 first by covering with a glass pane, and keep in a warm 

 place till germinated. After that give plenty of light and 

 not too much warmth, else the seedlings will grow spindling 

 and weak. On mild days set outside on the window ledge 

 or elsewhere, in order to make the plants grow stockier and 

 healthier. When they have formed several leaves, not seed 

 leaves, they should be pricked out and replanted several 

 inches apart in new boxes or flats. This will give them more 

 room and develop a better root system. If set outside in 

 daytime do not forget to take them in at night. 



Cold-frame : In many respects a cold-frame is more con- 

 venient than the indoor method of starting seeds, especially 

 where many are grown. A cold-frame is made by constructing 

 a rectangular box or frame, setting it in the earth, or banking 



