Making a Seedbed to Start Plants 
Small seeds such as celery, lettuce, endive, pepper, eggplant, tomato, 
ete. should always be sown in seedbeds. The soil in seedbeds must be 
put in perfectly fine condition and made into beds four to six or more 
inches high, to prevent overflow in case of heavy rains. When the soil 
in the seedbed is in condition—thoroughly and finely pulverized, moist, 
and made perfectly smooth and level—sow the seed broadcast or in 
rows six inches apart. 
We recommend the use of burlap or white muslin to be used as a 
cover over the seedbeds, stretching it on a three- or four-foot wide 
tent-shaped or slanting frame built over the seedbed, with the sides 
about 12 inches from the ground to provide ample circulation of air 
under the cover. This seedbed cover will serve as a shade, also break 
the force of heavy rains. It may be also advisable to use ground covers 
of burlap or old fertilizer bags. When seeds begin to germinate, covers 
should be removed immediately to prevent growth of leggy or spindly, 
weak plants. After the seed is sown, it is desirable to sprinkle every 
evening or oftener if necessary with cool water by means of hand 
sprinkling pots in order to keep the soil cool and moist, which tends to 
increase germination of seeds during the hot summer and early fall 
months. 
When plants in the seedbed are about six inches high, transplant 
to the field or garden, preferably on a cloudy day or toward evening, 
and water the plants thoroughly immediately after setting. Some 
shading would be desirable for a few days until transplanted plants 
become established. 
Preparation and Fertilizing of the Soil for 
the Home Vegetable Garden 
The soil in the garden should be carefully and well prepared. Ber- 
muda grass and weeds should be removed with all roots. A little extra 
time spent in preparing the soil for planting will save many hours of 
hoeing later in the season. It is best to spade or plow, and apply com- 
mercial fertilizer to the soil ten days to two weeks before planting in 
order to avoid burning the seed or young plants. 
Well rotted animal manure may be used as a fertilizer, at the rate 
of approximately 25 to 30 lbs. of manure, and 2% to 3 lbs. of Acid 
Phosphate for each 100 square feet of garden. If manure is not avail- 
able, leaf mold or black muck or hammock soil are ideal materials to 
work into the garden soil. If none of these materials are available, a 
two- or three-inch layer of horticultural grade peat moss (Page 23) 
may be worked into the garden soil. This material is clean and easy 
to handle, and is a wonderfully effective material for breaking up hard 
soil, making it mellow, or for adding humus to sandy soil, making it 
more retentive of moisture and fertilizer materials. After this peat 
moss is worked into the soil, an inch or two-inch layer of Wizard 
Brand Sheep manure along with a liberal application of a good garden 
fertilizer such as Vigoro or a special Victory Garden fertilizer such 
as a 5-10-5 mixture (see page 23) should be used, applying one of 
these fertilizer materials broadcast at the rate of 4 to 6 lbs. per 100 
square feet. If this material is raked into the surface soil a week or 
ten days before planting you will have the foundation for an excellent 
vegetable garden. If the fertilizers are applied just before planting, 
they are very liable to burn the young plants as they emerge from 
the seed. 
After the vegetable plants are well started in the garden, a complete 
fertilizer such as Vigoro, or a special Victory garden fertilizer mixture, 
5-10-5 formula, (see page 23) applied lightly on either side of the row 
of vegetables, but not in contact with the leaves or stems to avoid 
burning, every two or three weeks will make thrifty plants which pro- 
duce an abundant supply of high quality vegetables for the home table. 
Note :—All materials indicated above, such as Wizard Brand Sheep 
Manure, Peat Moss, Acid Phosphate, Vigoro, and the 5-10-5 Victory 
Garden fertilizer mixture, are available at all Kilgore Seed stores, and 
in our mail order department at Plant City, Florida. (See page 23). 
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