THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 223 
planting; then they may be placed in a window near 
the pane, where they will obtain as much sunshine as 
possible. Drafts must be avoided. The boxes must be 
moved away from the window on cold nights. 
Seedlings may be grown successfully in either east or 
west windows, but the best results are obtained in south 
windows. 
The depth from which seeds may come up will depend 
upon one or more of the following conditions : the supply 
of air, the structure of the embryo, and the amount of 
nourishment stored in the seed. There is an optimum 
depth at which the best results may be obtained in 
each case. 
TRANSPLANTING 
When the second leaf begins to form, the seedlings 
are ready for transplanting. This must be attended to 
as soon as the plants are ready, especially if they are 
crowded in the box. The greatest difficulty met with 
in producing seedlings in a window is that they tend 
to become weak and spindling. If transplanted at the 
proper time, they will produce more roots, the stem 
will become stronger, and a more vigorous leaf growth 
will take place. Fig. 125 illustrates two tomato plants. 
They were growing in the same box side by side. The 
plant on the left was permitted to continue its growth 
in the germinating box after the plants in the box were 
thinned out; the one on the right was transplanted 
to another box. 
