CHAPTER XXXV 



Planting 



On the first day after the garden is ready, if the soil be not 

 too moist, we are likely to wish to begin the planting. This 

 may be proper for perennial roots, but for seeds the objection 

 is that we may be forcing the season. There is sometimes a 

 little difference between the time when the ground is ready 

 to be worked and the proper time to plant. Watch the old 

 gardeners in your neighborhood, and see if they are at work. 

 Remember that you will not lose much by waiting a day or 

 two till the weather becomes settled. Heavy frosts, or a 

 cold, rainy week, might do much damage. The later planted 

 crops will nearly catch up with the earlier ; while if the early 

 planted ones fail, the loss is considerable. Remember 

 again that there is no real hurry in planting the whole- 

 season crops : a few days in the fall makes no difference 

 whatever ; it is with the short-season crops that we are usually 

 in a hurry. Finally, distinguish carefully between the hardy 

 and tender crops. You can plant sweet peas and radish 

 very early in the spring, and frosts will not do them serious 

 hurt ; but nasturtiums and beans must wait till the danger 

 of frosts is past. 



Thus you see that for your planting you must make a 

 time-table as well as a plan. Study the table in the Appendix. 



When you begin, follow the garden plan. If it was made 

 to measure, you can by means of it locate every row, or 

 every group, exactly. 



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