GROWING EARLY PLANTS 

 E. H. Hallett, St. Johnsbtjry Center, Vt. 



A successful crop from the garden de- 

 pends largely upon the plants we use. 

 Many lose sight of this and use anything 

 that is a plant, regardless of its vitality 

 and ability to produce. 



Let us first consider that plant and ani- 

 mal are practically the same — both have 

 to eat, drink and breathe — therefore es- 

 sentially they should be cared for in about 

 the same way. The dairyman of today, if 

 he wishes to raise a cow that is a great pro- 

 ducer, must start as soon as life begins. He must take charge of 

 the animal every day seeing that it has the proper amount of feed, 

 drink and air. He must see that not a day passes but that the 

 animal increases in growth. If at any time it has not received 

 the necessary feed and care its capacity for production may be 

 injured. 



Plant life is exactly the same. ^Ve find when talking with 

 people about plants that they want them stocky, well-colored and 

 vigorous for setting. But do we always get such? Xo; because 

 we do not take enough care in growing them. Often we who 

 grow for the market are so eager to get bigger returns from the 

 amount of space that the plants have to suffer. 



FORCING HOUSE 



Tn growing early plants it is necessary, especially in this north- 

 ern country, to have a greenhouse for sowing the seed and forcing 

 to the time of transplanting. Beginners are sometimes frightened 

 at the expense of this, but they need not be, for a house that is 

 small, with good light and well-heated will do as well as one 

 costing thousands of dollars. Two hundred dollars will build one 

 in which 50,000 plants can be started as well as in a more 



expensive house. 



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