FOR YOUNG GARDENERS. 



31 



two parts sand. Mix well and sift, placing lumps in the 

 bottom of the box for drainage. Fill the box nearly half 

 full of lumps, broken pots or pieces of brick; then put in 



A set of Sieves. 



A, half inch Mesh; b, one-fourth inch Mesh; c flour Sieve. Buy the 



woven wire and any boy can make the first two sieves. 



Get the other at the hardware store. 



Cut loaned by Doubleday, Page & Co., N. Y. 



the fine soil, pressing down the corners with the fingers. 

 Heap the soil up on the box, and with a smooth stick 

 scrape it off level. Place the seeds in the left hand and 

 with the thumb and fingers of the right hand scatter the 

 seed evenly over the surface of the soil. Cover all, sift- 

 ing a little dry soil through a flour sieve over the seeds, 

 not more than one-eighth or one-sixteenth inch in thick- 

 ness. Press down firmly and evenly with a block or board; 

 put in the window garden and sprinkle with water thor- 

 oughly. Do not allow the soil to dry up- When the young 

 plants are up well, they may be transplanted into pots or 

 other boxes. For this, mix one part of soil, one part of 

 sand and one part of well-rotted manure together. Place a 

 piece of broken earthenware in the bottom of the pot for 

 drainage, then fill the pot about one-third full of the mixed 

 soil; then holding the plant in the left hand so that it is in 

 the center of the pot, fill evenly on all sides; press down 

 firmly but not too hard, thump the pot on the bench or 

 table to settle the soil; take it to the window garden and 

 sprinkle it, placing it in partial shade for a day or two. 

 Nearly all seeds can be planted and potted in this way. 



