SOWING AXD PLAXTIXG 



39 



E. R. Jinnette, of Illinois, and many other mar- 

 ket gardeners, say that it is quite important to cut 

 or "shear off" the top one-third or one-half of the 

 leaves of celery, cabbage, etc., before transplanting 

 to the open held. 



SPROUTS 



Nothing bvit experience can teach the air requirements 

 of plants in hotbeds or coldf rames. \\'atch the thermometer, 

 the sun, and the wind's direction, and raise or lower or take 

 ott the sash accordingly. 



"I do not use a hotbed," sa3'-s H. E. Haydock, a suc- 

 cessful Xew York State gardener. "I find that a number of 

 shallow boxes in a sunny room answer every purpose in 

 starting the tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, etc., that I intend 

 to raise." 



A wide, iron garden rake and three or 

 four pieces of corn-cob make an easily-con- 

 structed garden marker. Wide or narrow 

 spaces may be marked at will, by changing 

 the cobs. (See cut.) 



Soaking seeds of slow germination, as the beet, parsnip, 

 carrot, etc., is practised sometimes with good results. With 

 the proper seedbed, however, soaking is seldom necessary, 

 especially if the ground is thoroughly ''firmed'" after plant- 

 ing. This may be done with the feet, the back of a hoe, or 

 by rolling, and is a very important operation. 



You can not be too critical in procuring good seed. The 

 seedsmen who advertise in my favorite paper, the Farm 

 Journal, are extremely careful about the quality of their 

 stock, and take great pains to have it true to name. It is 

 usually safer to buy fresh seed every year, and not more 

 than is needed for each season. Place your order early. 



Many gardeners on a small scale do not care to bother 

 with growing plants in hotbeds and coldframes, and so buy 

 such plants ready-grown. This is often the cheapest way 

 udien only a few dozen tomato, cabbage, celery, pepper and 

 similar plants are needed for setting outdoors. \'arieties of 

 vegetables that are not usually transplanted (such as carrots, 

 corn, potatoes, etc.) of course need no preliminary hotbed or 

 coldframe growth. 



