The J. Bolgiano Seed Company, Baltimore, Md. 



Transplanting 



Transplanting is best done in cloudy weather during the late afternoon. The seedlings should be carefully hfted by 

 means of a transplanting trowel and placed in the garden which has been previously prepared by a good cultivation of 

 the soil. The seedUng should be placed well into the ground with roots straight down so that when the soil is firmed 

 with the hand a little will go over the top of the soil clinging to the roots. After transplanting give a light watering. Once 

 transplanted do not cultivate imtil the plants have established themselves and started to grow. 



Cultivating 



Never cultivate when the plants are wet. Do not forget this. It spreads disease if any is present. 



Always cultivate after a rain as soon as the soil is sufficiently dry. It is too wet to cultivate if a lump of it squeezed 

 in the hand does not crumble but shows the finger impressions. 



Never cultivate too close to the roots of plants. The roots of a plant cover practically the same area as the tops 

 except in vine crops. The primary reason for cultivating is to loosen the top soil so that moisture is conserved and that 

 air may get to the roots. Elimination of weeds is also accomplished. 



Watering 



When watering of the garden is necessary due to dry spells, remember that it must be a thorough job or it is 

 injurious. When watering, soak the garden and do not water more than once a week. A light watering will not pene- 

 trate the soil to the roots but wiU only wet the surface, and the roots seeking water tend to develop towards the surface 

 where they may be easily injured by the effects of the sun. 



Constructing The Hotbed 



The hotbed consists of a pit filled with manure covered with a sifted soil over which is placed hotbed sash to pro- 

 tect seedlings from the cold winds and allow the sun to warm and develop them. Hotbed sash of a standard size, 

 3 feet by 6 feet, and hotbeds may be made in multiples of this as needed. The side walls should be made of board, 

 the back being about 1 foot high and the front about 6 inches high. The pit should be about 2 feet deep, and it is 

 recommended that the inside of the pit be lined with boards, as this tends to retain the heat of the manure for a 

 longer period of time. 



It is best to obtain fresh stable manure for the hotbed, to pile, allow to stand a few daj's and repile, reheating until 

 the whole is thoroughly and evenly heated. The bed should then be filled with this manure, pressed down firmly and 

 covered with about 4 inches of a finely sifted top soil. It is best to allow to stand for several days after preparation in order 

 for the temperature to subside. The best way to test this is to place a thermometer about 3 inches below the surface 

 of the soil, and when the temperature registers about 65 degrees Fahrenheit, the bed is ready. 



Seed may be planted in the same way as de.scribed in the use of the seed flat. Watering should be done in the 

 morning. Care should be taken that the seed bed does not overheat by the sun shining full on the glass. Ventilating 

 may be accomplished by raising the sash slightly during the hot part of the day. On cold nights the frame should 

 be given some sort of protection by using a hotbed mat or by the use of straw. 



As the plants develop they may be hardened by removing the sash during, the day until they are ready to trams- 

 plant, when they maj^ be moved to a cold frame. The cold frame is made in exactly the same way as the hotbed with- 

 out the manure pit, where the plants may be developed until ready for transplanting to the outdoor garden. It is possi- 

 ble by thinning the seedlings to use the hotbed as a cold frame without transplanting. 



