all. Wherever it is possible during the winter months, irri- 
gate in the morning. Irrigating in the evening chills the 
soil, All the heat that accumulates in the soil during the 
day should be allowed to stay there as far into the night 
as it will. During the hot summer months, it is better to 
irrigate in the evening, as it revives the plants after a 
hot day. When you thin re-plant the plants to a neighbor. 
Don't waste seedl 
Planting. Small seed like cabbage, lettuce, onions, etc., 
should not be planted over one-quarter of an inch deep. 
(Always refer to both planting charts before sowing any 
seed.) Other seed, such as parsnip and carrots, should be 
planted still shallower. This is because the germ or 
sprout must have air and light. If this is denied by too 
deep planting, it dies before reaching the surface. The 
soil should be packed firmly arourid the seed to hold the 
moisture and to assure germination. Small seed should 
be planted plentifully, as the many young sprouts to- 
gether will have strength enough to raise the soil and 
push their way through where if they were planted spar- 
ingly the single plants would not be strong enough to 
force their way out. Crops should always be rotated. Root 
crops should never follow root crops, nor should vines 
follow vines on the same ground year after year. Soak 
beet and parsley seed overnight in water before planting 
in dry climates. Tomato plants should be planted up to 
the third joint—each joint will root, insuring three crops. 
DIRECTIONS 
SOWING FLOWER SEEDS IN THE 
OPEN GROUND 
Irrigate thoroughly, and after a few days spade, pulverize 
and rake level. Cover seeds about three times their thick- 
ness when planting in open ground—for instance Zinnias 
one-half inch deep, Asters one-fourth inch deep, Mari- 
golds one-fourth inch deep, Larkspur one-fourth inch deep. 
Open a shallow furrow, sow the seeds, cover immedi- 
‘ately ond firm the soil to the seeds by marching down 
the row in very short steps and throwing your weight on 
the balls of your feet. This makes a perfect union be- 
tween the seed and the soil and assures you that there 
is no loose condition which might cause the seed to dis- 
integrate and lose its power of germination. Then level 
the surface by raking lightly over the top making a culti- 
vated appearance. Avoid sprinkling for this would form 
a crust, which would exclude the air and make it very 
difficult for the tiny plants to break through the surface. 
The thorough irrigation before spading should provide 
plentiful moisture to germinate the seeds without addi- 
tional water being applied. If sowings are made when 
the weather is very warm it is a good plan to cover the 
rows with strips of burlap until the seeds sprout. After 
the plants are up, they may be sprinkled or irrigated, 
following each irrigation with surface cultivation to break 
the crust that may form. < 
When the plants are sufficiently developed, thin to a dis- 
tance between plants that will give room for those re- 
maining to develop well. The thinning process may con- 
tinue for some time, removing each alternate plant at 
frequent intervals. In removing the plants, take sufficient 
soil with each one so as to disturb the roots as little as 
“ possible. Zinnias and Asters thin to one foot apart, Mari- 
golds and Larkspur to eight inches apart. 
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