78 The Principles of Vegetable- Gardening 



cold, they may be set in the field the minute the soil is 

 fit. Hard}^ plants ( lettuce, cabbage, kale, cauliflower) 

 are used for this purpose. Seeds are sown in late fall, 

 and when the plants have grown four or five wrecks 

 they are ready to be transplanted into the frames. 

 It is not well that they make much growth in bulk 

 after transplanting to the frames ; but they should se- 

 cure a good root -hold before freezing weather comes. 

 Some persons sow the seeds directly in the frames, but 

 better results are usually attained if the" plants are 

 made extra stocky by transplanting. All soft, weak 

 and imperfect plants are likely to be destroyed by the 

 winter. Plants which are very young and flabby usu- 

 ally perish. Those which are too old tend to run to 

 seed when spring weather comes. Only by experience 

 can one determine the proper age at w^hich the plants 

 should go into the winter ; and this experience is 

 likely to vary with different varieties of the same vege- 

 tables. A plant which has begun to thicken up and 

 to show signs of a tendency to form a head will nearly 

 always run to seed in the spring, for it seems not to 

 have the power to resume active vegetative growth 

 after its long check. Cabbage plants with three or 

 four true leaves should be able to pass the winter and 

 to give satisfactory results the following year. The 

 novice should undertake these experiments in a small 

 way, particularly in the North, where the practice is 

 not common and the results are precarious. 



Keep the frames uncovered until stiff freezing 

 weather comes. Then use sash and covers. Gradually 

 the plants and soil may freeze ; but exercise care that 



