THE GROWING OF VEGETABLES 205 



quickly that they mark the row so that raking the garden will 

 not destroy the lettuce. 



Salsify and parsnips are often grown in the same row, or 

 in rows very close together for the special reason that they 

 require the same kind of tillage, and both may be left in the 

 ground over winter to be improved by freezing. 



Examples of companion cropping are numerous. The 

 following may be suggested : Early onions and late beets ; early 

 peas and radishes , peas with late crop of salsify or parsnips ; 

 corn and peas; corn and beans; early cabbage and celery 

 plants; corn and pumpkins; corn and watermelons. 



Succession Cropping. — The garden soil should be kept 

 well occupied throughout the growing season. As soon as one 

 crop is harvested, another should be planted. This plan of 

 having one crop follow another as promptly as possible is called 

 " Succession Cropping." The following are suggestive exam- 

 ples: (1) Early corn to follow early potatoes. (2) Cabbage 

 seed or plants to follow early potatoes. (3) Egg-plants to 

 follow early potatoes. (4) Okra to follow early potatoes. 

 (5) Turnips to follow potatoes. (6) Turnips to follow peas. 

 (7) Early variety of potatoes planted late after early peas, 

 radishes or lettuce. 



Soaking Garden Seed. — If the ground is ready and plans 

 are carefully made so that the planting may be done very soon, 

 it is safe to soak many kinds of garden seeds in advance. The 

 benefits derived are due to the softening of seed coats and the 

 moistening of the storage matter in the seeds. 



When seeds are to be soaked care should be taken to not 

 exclude the air from them. . The dish in which the soaking is 

 done should be left open and the quantity of water should 

 be limited so as not to " drown " the seeds. 

 ^ The water used may be luke warm and the time allowed 

 should be only a few hours. Over night is not too long for 

 such seeds as melons, corn, celery, parsley, carrot, and any 



