APRIL: FIRST WEEK 83 



It is frequently desirable to hurry a crop along, or, when 

 conditions are not favorable for sprouting, to give the seeds 

 some treatment before planting. The method generally 

 used is to soak the seeds from twenty-four to forty-eight 

 hours in tepid water so they will be at the point of germina- 

 tion before they are put into the soil. This is specially 

 desirable for seeds that germinate slowly, such as celery, 

 parsley, and the like. But it can be used to advantage in 

 other cases — to get a quick start with peas, for instance. 

 Hard-shelled seeds, such as cannas and moonflowers, may 

 be filed or notched with a sharp knife, and then soaked. 

 Do not allow soaked seeds to become dried out again before 

 planting. They may be rolled in dry dust or in gypsum to 

 prevent their sticking together in planting. 



It often happens that plants received by mail or express 

 in the course of the spring have to be kept for several days 

 before they can be set out, although they should always be 

 put rato the ground as soon as possible. When the plants 

 arrive unpack them carefully and look them over to see that 

 you have just the right numbers of the right varieties. 

 Untie the packages so the plants can get plenty of air, but 

 keep them where they will be protected from wind and sun 

 and will be kept cool. The roots should be kept moist either 

 by heeling them in moist earth or by having moist moss or 

 burlap wrapped round them. 



Protection from Late Frosts 



Sometimes plants are large enough to set out before condi- 

 tions are just right for them. The first thing to do with 

 plants that have grown as large as you want them to be is to 

 get them into the open air. Keep them where they can be 

 protected from frost, but where they can get full sun and 

 air. Give just enough water to keep the soil from drying 

 out. Water thoroughly, however, the day before planting, 

 so that the soil and roots will be in the right condition. 



Occasionally during March, April and early May in the 

 Northern States the gardener who is trying to be early will 



