





= 
zs 
CALENDULA, Orange Shaggy 


MARIGOLD, Harmony 
Type, French 
Tall Single 
¥ 
MARIGOLD, Guinea Gold 
(Below) GAILLARDIA 
SEED PLANTING (Cont'd) 
One of the common errors in plant- 
ing squash, melon, cucumber, ete., 
is to assume that a hill really is a 
hill. Actually, a hill is a hole, since 
these vine crops are planted in de- 
pressions about 2” below the sur- 
rounding surface to catch water, In- 
cidentally, all vine crops love 
humus or well-rotted manure. If 
they can be planted in depressions 
filled with soil in the top of a com- 
post heap, they will produce ex- 
travagantly. 
Good seed germinates freely, soitisa 
mistake to plant it too thickly, This 
is especially true if it is treated 
before planting with ROOTONE, 
which speeds up germination and 
root growth. 
How to plant fine seed 
In planting fine seed, tear off one 
corner of the packet and, if Rootone 
is used, drop in a pinch and shake. 
The seed can be tapped out of the 
torn corner of the packet one at a 
time. Fine seed is often mixed with 
dry sand so that it will spread out 
better, but this will only work if 
seed is not more than twice the size 
of the sand grains. 
Large seeds should be poured out 
of the packet into a cup or bowl so 
that they can be dropped individu- 
ally into the furrow, Beans and peas 
should be treated with a legume 
inoculation before planting, even if 
this was done last year. Improved 
legume cultures are constantly be- 
ing propagated in the laboratories 
and give superior results to natural 
inoculation. 
TIME OF SOWING 
The danger from frost or cold and 
wet weather varies so much that 
exact dates are impossible to give. 
However, the following natural cal- 
endar will tell when various crops 
are to be planted. 
FULLY HARDY CROPS: Sow as 
soon as the ground can be worked 
in spring, or when the farmer 
plants oats. In some years cro- 
cuses and snowdrops may be in 
bloom at this time, but if the 
ground is ready sooner, plant any- 
way. These crops include lettuce, 
cabbage, broccoli, carrots, cauli- 
flower, kale, kohlrabi, parsnips, rad- 
ishes, rutabagas, spinach and tur- 
nips. Also round-seeded peas. 
HARDY CROPS: When the daffo- 
dils and earliest tulips bloom, or 
when maple trees are in full 
flower, plant these: Beets, wrinkled 
peas, Swiss chard, and onion sets. 
TENDER CROPS: When the Li- 
lacs, Darwin Tulips and Apple 
Blossoms are in full bloom, plant 
these: Bush beans, sweet corn, 
pumpkins, and squash are included. 
TROPICAL CROPS: When the 
petals on apple blossoms will have 
fallen and the tall late irises are 
in full bloom plant: Okra, Lima 
beans, Pole beans, muskmelons and 
cucumbers, and set out plants of 
tomatoes, peppers and -eggplant. 
These can’t stand frost and should 
not be planted until the weather is. 
warm and settled. 






TRANSPLANTING 
Seedlings can be transplanted any 
time after the second pair of 
leaves has formed, provided the 
weather is suitable. 
The effects of ‘hardening off” 
seedlings by exposing them to cool 
air is not very effective; even a 
fully hardened cabbage plant will 
lose its frost resistance if subjected 
to warm weather for four or five 
days. Therefore, even in the case of 
crops that are seeded very early, 
seedling plants should not be set 
outdoors until the weather is warm 
and settled. 
Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower 
can go out when sweet corn is 
planted, and tomatoes and pep- 
pers after apple blossom petals 
fall. 
Wet the soil around seedlings thor- 
oughly before planting out. Select 
a cloudy day so the direct sun won't 
wilt the plants. Dig with a ball of 
soil that contains as many fine hair 
roots as possible. 
Watering the seedlings with a solu- 
tion of TRANSPLANTONE when 
transplanting will restore the hor- 
mones lost when the root tips are 
cut in digging. This plant hormone 
prevents wilting and means quicker 
recovery from the shock of trans- 
planting. 
In working between rows when 
transplanting, lay a board over the 
soil so it won’t pack. Roots grow 
better in loose soil. 

Right Wrong Wrong 
When seedlings are to be trans- 
planted without a ball of soil, long 
taps roots should be shortened, and 
the whole root system placed and 
“firmed in’’ so that it is well spread 
out, not bunched. Soil in which roots 
are placed must be finely pulverized. 

Use a wide board when transplant- 
ing, to prevent packing soil around 
roots, (See sketch.) 
29 
