so 
HOLLYHOCK, D 
SCABIOSA, 
Blue Moon 
ouble 
ANTIRRHINUM 
TETRA (Snapdragon) 
‘HOME GARDENING GUIDE 
WINDOW SEED BOX 
Window seed boxes are frequently 
relied on by gardeners who do not 
wish to operate a hot bed or cold 
frame, but still want to give an 
early start to a few subjects. 
Any sort of shallow box can be 
used. The commercial flats are 
usually about 15 by 20 inches, and 
3 to 4 inches deep. A wood which 
will stand wetting is used, such as 
cypress, or white pine. 
Seeds may be broadcast in the 
small box, or sown in shallow rows. 
HOLES FOR 
DRAINAGE 
4" APART 
EACH WAY. 
OWS |" APART. 
USEFUL TOOL TO 
=. COMPACT SOIL. 
=— "BOARD 4X16 
< WITH I" PIECE 
— 4X11 NAILED 
TO UNDER SIDE. 
Unless there is a hotbed or cold 
frame into which the seedlings can 
be transplanted, do not start the 
indoor box more than a month 
earlier than the safe date for out- 
door planting, 
Soil in the seed box should be a 
light, fertile loam. Sift, and place 
the coarser part in the bottom of 
the box, the fine soil on top. Firm 
it with a brick or piece of board, 
pressing gently. Make shallow drills 
with a ruler, sow the seed without 
crowding, and cover lightly with 
soil. Firm the soil again, and water 
the box by setting it in a tub of 
water, allowing the water to soak 
from the bottom up, to avoid dis- 
turbing the seeds. 
Place the box in a cool, dark place 
until the seeds sprout. A piece of 
burlap, or a blanket of wet news- 
paper on top of the soil will prevent 
it drying out. As soon as the sprouts 
appear, carry the box to the light. 
Give the box all the light possible. 
Place a pane of glass slightly larger 
than the box over it during the early 
stages of growth, to increase tem- 
perature. Each morning wipe off 
any moisture which has condensed 
on this glass, and prop up one end 
to give ventilation during the day. 
Do not allow the soil to dry out, 
but avoid excessive watering, and 
use a gentle spray which will not 
wash the scil. 
As soon as the seedlings have made 
their second pair of leaves they 
should be transplanted, either to 
small pots or to other flats. 
The temperature of the home is 
usually satisfactory to the plants, 
provided it is not too hot. A day 
temperature not over 70 degrees 
and a night temperature not below 
55 degrees is satisfactory for most 
subjects. 
MAKING A HOTBED 
Normally, these do not pay if used 
only for growing seedlings, but 
the advanced gardener will find 
them useful for protecting plants 
in fall, for storing winter vege- 
tables or for growing lettuce and 
radishes until long after they are 
available in the open garden. 
These should be located on the south 
side of a hedge, fence or building 
to break the wind, and must have 
at least six hours of direct sunshine 
during the day. 
Standard hotbed sash is three feet 
wide and six feet long, so if sash 
is purchased, make hotbed of these 
dimensions. Frame should be sloped 
by making north side six to eight 
inches taller than south side to catch 
sunlight and to provide good drain- 
age. 
Dig hole six inches larger on all 
sides than the frame on which sash 
Tests. 
Pit should be 24’' deep. Fill to top 
with fresh strawy horse manure and 
press down six inches. Set frame 
over manure and fill around out- 
side and inside to level of ground. 
Add three inches of sifted soil in- 
side frame. Heap leaves or straw 
around outside to conserve heat. 
If manure is not available, dried 
leaves or chopped straw may be 
used by adding a handful of am- 
monium nitrate or ammonium sul- 
fate to each bushel of leaves. This 
will not, however, generate as high 
a heat as manure. 
As soon as frame is in place, water 
well, insert thermometer in soil and 
cover with sash, airing daily until 
thermometer drops below 85 de- 
grees. 
On sunny days ventilate thoroughly, 
but even cn cloudy days a crack of 
air may be needed to get rid of am- 
monia odor. Cover glass at night 
with blankets, old rugs or hotbed 
mats to conserve heat, 
Basement Window Greenhouse 
The frame for a basement window 
greenhouse is made the same as 
for a manure hotbed, but the back 
is omitted and no pit is dug. The 
open back fits against the base- 
ment winaow. The open window 
both ventilates and heats, so that 
in most instances no further ventila- 
tion will be needed. On very cold 
nights, a 100 watt electric bulb will 
keep up heat. 
