98 VEGETABLE GROWING PROJECTS 



12. Hardening the plants. — Too much emphasis cannot be 

 placed on the importance of thoroughly hardening the plants. 

 When well hardened they generally have a bluish-red tint, and 

 they may then be transferred to the field. If strong, vigorous, 

 and well hardened, they will stand a temperature of 10 to 15 degrees 

 below freezing, but otherwise they may succumb to light freezing. 

 The neglect of this simple operation may cause the total loss of the 

 plants. Hardening is accomplished during the last ten days to 

 two weeks before the plants are set in the open ground, by watering 

 sparingly or scarcely at all, just enough to keep the plants from 

 wilting, by gradually subjecting them to low temperature, and 

 finally, by giving them no protection day or night in the cold 

 frame. 



1. See W : 63 and references and questions. 



2. What is the importance of hardening early cabbage plants? 



W-VG : 159. 



3. Explain how you would proceed to harden the plants. 



4. How long does it take ? 



13. Growing late plants. — Late plants are nearly always started 

 from sowings made in the open ground. The time of sowing 

 depends upon the climate and the varieties to be grown. In most 

 northern localities the seed is sown during the month of May. 

 Very late varieties, like the Danish Ballhead, should be given the 

 advantage of early sowing, while the mid-season ones, such as 

 Succession, need not be sown until several weeks later. The tend- 

 ency, however, is to err in sowing too late. The chances for a 

 good crop are better from fairly early sowing and timely trans- 

 planting into the field. 



A fine, moist seed bed should be prepared where neither cab- 



