SOWING AND PLANTING 



27 



counted for one furrow, and a small measure devised 

 (as a thimble partly filled with paraffin) to sow about 

 the same quantity of seed in each furrow. After 

 sowing the seed the furrows can be filled rapidly by 

 moving a straight-edge over the ridges. If the seed- 

 lings seem to crowd too much when they grow, thin 

 them out as soon as possible, press the soil about the 

 remaining plants, and then water enough to settle the 

 ground. 



Ventilation, Moisture, etc. — Heat and mois- 

 ture must be carefully regulated and controlled. A 

 high temperature and excessive moisture, with little 

 ventilation, necessarily produce weak, spindling 

 plants. Every possible effort should be made to 

 maintain a moderate temperature (not above 90° 

 nor below 60°) in the greenhouse or hotbed, and it 

 is important not to water more than is absolutely 

 necessary. In the management of hotbeds, ventila- 

 tion should be attended to daily; water only when 

 the ground looks dry. Warm the water in cold 

 weather to avoid chilling plants. For time of sowing 

 see chapters on the different vegetables. 



Transplanting to Hot or Cold Frames. — In 

 about four weeks the seedlings are usually ready to 

 transplant. By that time the fourth or rough leaves 

 will be formed and a good root system developed. 

 Whether the plants should be transplanted to hot or 

 to cold frames depends upon the variety, the time 

 and the season. Hardy plants like cabbage, cauli- 

 flower, lettuce, etc., may go into coldframes early, 

 but tender plants such as tomatoes, peppers, egg- 

 plant, etc., should not go into coldframes until the 

 time and weather make such a change safe; these 

 last are sometimes moved early to hotbeds and then 

 later to coldframes. Fill fiats with a mixture of 



