178 Gardening 
be 
Fic. 103. A professional gardener planting seed in a flat. The flats are con- 
veniently supported on a board laid between the greenhouse benches, the rows 
are laid out by a wooden strip of proper width, and the soil is firmed with the 
tool resting against the left side of the flat. 
Cover the drainage holes in the bottom of the flat with 
pieces of coal, small stones, or broken earthenware. 
Then fill the flat with the prepared soil, level off even 
with the top, and firm the soil by pressure with a piece 
of board. The flat is now ready for the planting of the 
seed or for the work of transplanting. 
Planting the seeds inthe flat. Seeds may be scattered, 
or they may be sown in rows in the flat. If they are 
planted in rows, make furrows about 2 inches apart and 
about 4 inch deep; this is deep enough for the small 
