Garden Work 
70 
may be ruined. About three weeks after the plants 
have come up they should be pricked out into a cold 
frame, the soil of which should be a nice loam with a 
little leaf soil and sand. The plants should be placed 
from 4 to 6 in. apart. The surface of the soil in the 
frame should be about 8 or 9 in. from the glass. If more 
than this, the plants will be drawn up and weakened. 
They must be kept as cool as possible to prevent growth 
from going on too rapidly and the plants becoming soft, 
and therefore not able to stand the severe weather of 
winter. A thin layer of lime should be spread round 
the inside of the frame to prevent slugs getting at the 
plants in winter. Air must be given to the plants on 
every suitable occasion, and especially in severe weather, 
thus allowing the frame to dry properly and prevent 
“damping off”. When the days begin to lengthen, and 
the weather to improve, all air possible should be given, 
until the sashes can be thrown off altogether. They 
should, however, be kept handy, in case of emergency. 
About the end of February, if the weather is favour- 
able, the plants may be lifted, with good balls of soil 
attached to the roots, and planted out on a warm south 
border. If the weather aftenvards becomes severe, the 
plants should be covered over at night with large pots 
or hand lights, which can be taken off during the day. 
In this way nice heads should be obtained towards the 
end of May or early in June, according to the climatic 
conditions of the district. 
For the second crop the seed may be sown thinly in 
a box, frame, or greenhouse, about the beginning of 
February, and as soon as ready they may be pricked out 
