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HOW TO START 
PLANTS IN BOXES 
INDOORS 
headstart on spring weather. 
Seedling plants may be grown successfully in boxes or pots of soil for a 
The preparation cf the seed box is simple but 
needs care. Whether it is a cigar box or a larger “flat’’ holes should be bored 
in the bottom—about three inches apart in larger boxes and about three inches 
apart in cigar box size. 
Over the bottom of the box spread pieces of broken 
flower pots or crocker, or small pebbles, then coarser soil, and last of all, finely 
sifted garden soil. An ideal growing medium is one third peat moss or rotted 
manure, one-third screened garden soil and one-third sand 
Plant the seed thinly in rows. The general rule for depth of planting is 
about four times the diameter of the seed. Small, fine seeds such as those of 
petunias should no tbe buried but pressed only gently enough on top of the 
soil to make a firm contact. Thin sowing is economy. The tiny plants crowd 
Keep soil moist at all times. It is best to cover the seed box with a damp 
cloth or paper until germination starts and place a pane of glass over the 
top. Prop up edge of glass during the day for ventilation. Remove the paper 
or cloth as soon as the first sprouts break through the soil. Wipe off glass 
when water collects on it from evaporation. This will prevent moisture from 
It is best not to 
water too often from the top. This is especially true of night watering. 
Do not waterlog the box. The best way to water is from beneath by setting 
le 
each other when planted too thickly. 
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dripping on the little plants and perhaps causing “damping off.” 
3. When seedlings begin to grow keep soil moist at all times. 
the seed box in a pan of water or in shallow water in the sink. 
4, 
When ready for transplanting either outside or to other containers, lift 
seedlings gently with pencil or knife blade. 
your seedlings grow faster . . 
(See Page 7 for how to make 
and bigger!) 
3. Fertilize The Trench 
After the rows have been either scratched into 
4. Plant Your Seed 
The soil should be moist but never wet, at the 
the soil with either a cultivator, the sharp end of 
a hoe or any other suitable implement, it will be 
wise to fertilize the trench with Vigoro, the Com- 
plete plant food, or any other appropriate fertil- 
izer, (See page 3.) Only a slight sprinkling is 
necessary. It is highly recommended that this 
sprinkling be thoroughly watered down prior to 
planting. 
time of planting seed in open ground. To retain 
moisture after planting, cover seed immedictely 
with the fine, freshly-prepared earth hilled-up 
after digging the trench, pressing down firmly and 
smoothly. This firming of the soil brings the par- 
ticles of earth into close contact with seeds, pre- 
vents drying out, and facilitates growth. 
PLANT STAFFEL’S 
Freshly-Packaged 
NEW CROP SEED FOR 
BEST RESULTS: 
Your garden will be no better than 
the seed you plant. Weak and aged 
seeds will make only poor, runted 
plants, if at all. Only new, freshly- 
packaged seed will make good stands. 
When you buy garden seed in the 
plump (compare the amount of seed 
you get with that of other packets), 
colorful STAFFEL’S PACKETS, you 
know you are getting THE BEST. No 
danger here, you can bet, of buying 
old stale seed. The season for which the 
seed was packaged is clearly printed on 
the STAFFEL PACKET. Insist on 
this dated packet. It is your guarantee 
of Freshness . . . and Fine Quality. 
NINE 
