Starting Seed in Flats 
It is economical to buy qual¬ 
ity seed. Carefully read and 
follow the cultural directions 
printed on the packet to get 
the best results, for each plant 
has its owm requirements. 
For soil drainage, break up 
old flower pots and cover the 
bottom of the seed box, in ad¬ 
dition to boring holes in the 
bottom boards provided they 
are set with no space between. 
Sift well-prepared soil com¬ 
posed of sand, leaf mold and 
good garden loam on .top of 
drainage material through a 
fine - meshed sieve, filling 
box to about 1 inch of the top. 
Firm the soil so it will not 
settle after water is applied by 
pressing down heavily on en¬ 
tire surface with a block of 
wood, making the surface per¬ 
fectly level at the same time. 
Scatter fine seed thinly over 
soil surface. Set large seeds 
dowm into the soil M to >4 
inch deep. Sift enough soil 
over the top of the seed bo.x 
to lightly cover the seed. 
Gently sprinkle seed flat by 
means of a fine spray so as not 
to dislodge the seed. Water 
thoroughly, then do not water 
again until soil surface shows 
indications of drying out. 
Cover seed flat with glass 
slightly tilted to provide 
plenty of ventilation. To aid 
germination a couple of thick¬ 
nesses of newspaper can be 
put under glass till seed sprouts. 
Set seed box where protected 
from direct sunlight, winds or 
downpour—in lath house, cold 
frame or under a tree., If set 
in the open, shade with bur¬ 
lap, muslin or lath screen. 
After the seeds sprout, keep 
the flat free from weeds. 
Also, thin out the little plants 
just as soon as they begin 
to touch so they do not 
grow up tall and spindly. 
When fourth leaf appears lift 
out the plants with a fork and 
transplant into pots or box, 
using a little richer soil. 
Harden off plants by grad¬ 
ual exposure to sun and air. 
In about two weeks set plants 
out into a garden spot pre¬ 
pared in advance by removal 
of stones and replacement of 
some of the subsoil with good 
garden loam and fertilizer. 
After planting, carefully water 
the plants, so soil packs about 
the roots, then shade them for 
a few days by means of plant 
caps, improvised cardboard 
shieldsor in verted berry boxes 
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