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SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENING 



Use the hotbeds to start such tender vegetables as tomato, 

 egg-plant and pepper (Fig. 131). The seed may first be 

 sown in window boxes and as the second pairs of leaves are 

 forming transplant them to the hotbed. 



More sweet potatoes should be bedded this month, and 

 Irish potatoes may be planted for the purpose of succession 

 in cropping. Irish Cobblers are popular for planting now. 

 More of the early hardy vegetables may be started from 



seed. Plant English peas, rad- 

 ish (Pig. 132), beets, carrots, 

 endive, kohlrabi, salsify, pars- 

 ley, parsnips and turnips in the 

 open garden. Celery may yet be 

 started in hotbeds or window 

 boxes for planting out in April. 

 If you have started early 

 cabbage in the hotbed or win- 

 dow box, get it well hardened 

 and set part of the crop in the 

 garden. Early cabbage should 

 be kept going in a succession 

 of plantings. Sow extra early 

 Empress, early Jersey Wake- 

 field, Charleston Wakefield, and 

 other favorites in coldframes 

 or protected beds for later transplanting. Cauliflower should 

 be started. 



It is not too early to try a number of slightly tender 



garden crops now, but do not expose the tender plants to frost. 



Watermelon, muskmelon or cucumbers may be started now, 



if the hills are protected on cold nights with boxes or other 



covering, and if the soil and location are warm. 



Other tender vegetables to be planted in smaller quantities 

 now are beans, okra and young plants of tomato, peppers and 

 egg-plants, in warm soil and protected places. 



Fig. 132. — The early scarlet radish 

 is a favorite in children's gardens, as 

 the crop matures very quickly. 



