28 
WILSON S. BROWEK COMPANY, Inc., CATALOGUE OF SEEDS 
HINTS FOR HOME GARDENERS 
PREPARING THE SOIL 
A rich sandy loan is well adapted to gar¬ 
dening. Other kinds of soil are suitable, but 
stiff clays need plenty of fibrous material and 
must be thoroughly broken up. Sandy soils 
generally need additional fertilizing. 
When fertilizing is needed, well rotted 
stable manure is always beneficial, but It 
should be supplemented by commercial fer¬ 
tilizer containing a good percentage of phos¬ 
phate and potash. Wood ashes may be ap¬ 
plied liberally to most soils. For general use 
where manure is not available, a commercial 
fertilizer containing 4 per cent nitrates, 12 
per cent phosphate, and 4 to 6 per cent potash, 
is usually best. Apply at the rate of about 
4 pounds to the square rod. 
Work the soil deeply and make the top 
three or four inches as fine and loose as pos¬ 
sible. Remember that much weed killing can 
be done by hoeing or raking just before 
planting. Do not work clay soils when they 
are wet enough to stick to hoe or spade. 
PLANTING 
When planting seed, avoid disappointment 
and possible failure by means of: 
First—A constant and correct degree of 
moisture. The soil should always be moist, 
but never wet when avoidable. To retain 
moisture after planting, cover seed immediate¬ 
ly with fine freshly prepared earth and press 
it down firmly and smoothly. This firming of 
the soil brings the particles of earth into 
close contact with the seeds, prevents drying 
out, and facilitates growth. 
Second—The proper degree of heat. This 
is secured by planting when the atmospheric 
and soil temperatures are most favorable for 
germination of kind of seed that is to be 
planted. The best temperature for each sort 
may be learned from careful study of our 
cultural directions and by inquiry among the 
successful gardeners in your neighborhood. 
Third—Covering the seed at the right depth. 
This varies with different kinds of seeds and 
conditions of soil and can be learned only 
through practical experience. 
Fourth—Proper condition of the soil. It 
must be loose and soft so that the tender 
stems of seedlings can easily emerge and the 
young roots quickly find plant food. This is 
usually secured by careful preparation of the 
soil and by not planting fine seeds when the 
ground is wet. 
CULTIVATING 
Stirring the surface soil during the period 
of growth kills weeds, loosens the ground so 
as to encourage root development, allows air 
to enter, and helps to conserve moisture. 
Cultivation may be deep at first, but as the 
plants grow it should be more shallow to avoid 
injurv to the roots. 
STARTING PLANTS INDOORS 
Such vegetables as tomato, pepper, egg 
plant, and celery, and many of the flowers can 
be started indoors. Shallow wooden boxes 
three to four inches deep and convenient to 
handle are suitable for this purpose. Use 
rich, loose soil and plant the seed rows about 
two inches apart. Place the box in a well 
lighted window and keep the soil moist. As 
soon as the seedlings are a half inch tall, trans¬ 
plant to other boxes, setting them at least 
two inches apart each way. Give the plants 
plenty of sunlight and only moderate tem¬ 
perature so that they will not become spind¬ 
ling. Before setting in the garden, “harden 
off” the plants by placing the boxes outdoors 
on mild days, protecting them at night until 
they are able to stand the weather without 
injury. 
HOTBEDS 
You can gain time and have early vegetables 
at small cost by means of a hotbed. The con¬ 
struction is simple, and the expense so slight 
that any gardener can provide one for himself. 
MANAGING THE HOTBED 
In using a hotbed the essentials for success 
are: 
1. Steady, uniform heat and moisture. 
2. Keeping the soil a few degrees warmer 
than the air above it. 
3. Careful “hardening off” before trans¬ 
planting to the open air by gradual exposure 
to cooler temperature and by diminishing the 
supply of water. 
The greatest difficulty in accomplishing 
these three essentials, probably, is overheating 
the air in bright sunshine. Great care and 
watchfulness will be necessary to avoid it. 
Without experience one would scarcely be¬ 
lieve how quickly the temperature in a well 
built hotbed will rise to 90 or 100 degrees 
upon a still, sunny day, even when the tem¬ 
perature outside is far below freezing; or how 
quickly the temperature will fall to that out¬ 
side, if upon a windy, cloudy day the sash is 
left open ever so little. A rush of cold air 
driven over the plants is far more injurious 
than the same temperature when the air is 
still. Again, in cloudy weather, a bed can go 
several days without watering, but will dry 
up in an hour when open on a sunny day. 
TRANSPLANTING 
In transplanting, either outdoors or from the 
hotbed: 
Take care to avoid injury to the roots in 
taking up the plants. 
Set plants out as soon as possible to pre¬ 
vent air from coming in contact with the roots. 
Firm the soil around the plants so that they 
can take secure hold. 
