The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-11-09
THE FLORIDA
AGRICULTURAL
ExpsrimeAt Station, Department Of
HoFtieulturs ana BOtaAy-
SssA-bsas and Their


H1ansasment.
IBY JOHN II. JEPPERIEs. GARDENER HoRTIoUL-
CULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
Seed-beds may be made of any shape
or size desired, depending upon the
number of plants the trncker wishes to
grow.
The most convenient small seed-bed
ie a table furnished with end and side
boards six inches deep. Cracks one
fourth of an inch wide should be left
between the bottom boards to give
drainage. A movable cTver should be
erected to shield the bed from heavy
rains and the hot sun. This seed-bed
young lettuce plant8 II ants are in
the neighborhood, they will carry off
large numbers Of the seeds, and it lie
almost impossible to keep them out of
an ordinary seed bed.
They may be kept of the table seed
bed just described by using a teaspoon
full Of corrosive subiimate mixed with
two tablespoOnsfal Of lard. This mix
ture is spread upon pieces of cloth,
which are then tackled about the legs.
1t should be remembered that corrosive
sublimate is deadly poison.
In the bottom Of the bed place about
three inches Of well decompOsed stable
manure, then fill to within half an inch
of the top with hammock soil or leaf
mold Wet the bed down thoroughly
and allow it to stand o day or two be-
fore planting. It u preferable to have
the soil sufficiently moist 80 that 1t will
not be necessary TO water again until
the seeds terminate.
For larger paintings an ordinary cold
frame makes a very desirable seed-bed.
This may be Of any length, six feet
wide, three feet high at the back and
Sloping 70 one foot 1T the front. 1t
should be placed facing south or slightly
southeast Strengt hening braces should
be morticed into the back and front,
placing one every ak feet. The frame
should b located upon piece Of thor
Oughly drained ground. II protection
can be given by placing It 90 that It is
sheltered on tho north md northwest
BY = piece OF woodland 20 much the
better.
The covering for the seed-bed may
be made of heavy cotton cloth (bleach-
ing or drilling). This should be attached
to Q roller and placed at the back Of
the frame. When desired it may be
rolled down to protect against cold or
to give shade. In this frame six inches
of well rotted stable manure should be
placed, and on top of this three or four
inches of leaf mold or hammock soil.
The manure should be thoroughly de-
composed; but IL It should happen that
1t should heat, no seed should be placed
in the bed until the manure has rotted.
Lettuce and celery seed should be
sowed about one-fourth of an inch deep
and twenty or thirty seeds 70 the inch.
and caulihower should be
sowed little deeper and eight or ten
seeds to the inch
When the seedlings are large enough
to handle they may be transplanted.
Several methods have been tried, but
we have found that the best is to use
a board as wide as the space between
the rows. The board should be placed
on the soil and a furrow made along
side with a small stick or garden label. !
Lay the plants In the furrow, pressing
them against the straight side, pour in
q little water and replace the soil, gen.
tly tamping IL down with the edge of
the board. Lettuce should be set 2x4 |
inches, and cabbage, caulifower and !
celery 3x4 inches.
The damping-off fungus is the most
serious enemy 90 Seeding plants. Ii /
ian be held in check by keeping the |
surface dry and well worked, and IL an |
application of Bordeaux mixture is |
given every week, It will be found of |
great assistance in combating the dis /
ease.
When the plants are ready for the
ield they should be hardened off by |
water, and then, just pre-
'ious TO removing them, the ground |
should be thoroughly watered. 1t Is
desirable TO preserve the
whole root system. This may be accom-
)lished by taking an ordinary table !
inife ana cutting a line three or four
inches deep between the rows. The
Dlants may then be lifted with a sharp
pade by cutting down between them
n the row. This entails considerable
abor, but il will pay in the end
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