GROWING EARLY PLANTS 
FE. H. Hattert, St. Jounspury Center, Vr. 
A successful crop from the garden de 
pends largely upon the plants we use. 
Many lose sight of this and use anything 
that is a plant, regardless of its vitality 
and ability to produce. 
Let us first consider that plant and ani- 
mal are practically the same — both have 
to eat, drink and breathe — therefore es- 
sentially they should be cared for in about 
the same way. The dairyman of today, if 
he wishes to raise a cow that is a great pro- 
ducer, must start as soon as life begins. He must take charge of 
the animal every day seeing that it has the proper amount of feed, 
drink and air. He must see that not a day passes but that the 
animal increases in growth. If at any time it has not received 
the necessary feed and care its capacity for production may be 
injured. 
Plant life is exactly the same. We find when talking with 
people about plants that they want them stocky, well-colored and 
vigorous for setting. But do we always get such? No; because 
we do not take enough care in growing them. Often we who 
grow for the market are so eager to get bigger returns from the 
amount of space that the plants have to suffer. 
FORCING HOUSE 
In growing early plants it is necessary, especially in this north- 
ern country, to have a greenhouse for sowing the seed and forcing 
to the time of transplanting. Beginners are sometimes frightened 
at the expense of this, but they need not be, for a house that is 
small, with good light and well-heated will do as well as one 
costing thousands of dollars. Two hundred dollars will build one 
in which 50,000 plants can be started as well as in a more 
expensive house. 
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