133 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
200. Watering after sowing. — With an overhead sys- 
tem of irrigation it is often an advantage to water after 
sowing. In the management of crops under glass, the 
beds are nearly always watered thoroughly after sowing. 
The usual plan is to try to apply enough water to render 
further watering unnecessary until germination is com- 
plete. The watering of flats or beds by subirrigation 
is regarded as an advantage by some. The beds must, of 
course, be water-tight. Flats are often set in shallow 
tanks containing about inch of water, or more if neces- 
sary. The water soon rises 
in the soil by capillary attrac- 
tion, and there is no danger 
of washing out the seed. 
Watering by sprinkling, how- 
ever, is always satisfactory 
when done with care and in- 
telligence. 
201. Shading the seed bed. 
Some soils dry out more 
rapidly than others, and some 
fig. 30. lath screen seeds must have a more uni- 
form supply of moisture than 
others. For these reasons shading is often an advantage. 
In outdoor culture, lath screens (Figure 30) are fre- 
quently used. Just half the space is covered by the lath, 
so that no part of the bed is shaded all the time. A 
screen of this kind is easy to handle and provides good 
ventilation. Old carpet, burlap and paper are often used 
in shading beds. The screen or shade should always be 
removed before the young plants are injured. I11 green- 
house and hotbed work the seed boxes are often covered 
with glass, which conserves the moisture and also raises 
the temperature when there is sunshine. 
