VEGETABLE GARDENING 45 
cucumbers are often planted thickly in the hill and 
thinned when the plants have become well started. 
The thinning of growths which are started-on the inside 
and transplanted to the open field is accomplished by 
shifting the plants to other flats or pots, as already . 
explained, and setting them in the field, one in a 
place. The thinning of all crops should be done as 
early as the size of the plants will permit. In case of 
onions, since they must be grown to a good size before 
the plants will pull out without breaking off, the thin- 
ning may be delayed somewhat. Thinning of the crops 
insures specimens of larger and more uniform size, and 
a much greater percentage of the product is marketable 
or usable. 
Cultivation. The control of weeds and provision for 
a soil mulch is the most important work in the cultiva- 
-tion of the garden. Some people actually doubt that 
8. A WHEEL Hor 
cultivation has much value if there are no weeds. 
After each rain, as soon’as the ground will permit, a 
shallow soil mulch should be made, and the erust 
broken up. 
Garden tools. Every garden should have a wheel 
hoe. It will make gardening a pleasure instead of a 
