Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-06-02
WHAT TO DO NEXT
IN THE GARDEN
AFTER SEEDING AND TRANS
PLANTING OF COURSE
COMES WEDDING.
THEN LORE WEDDING, AND so
ON TO TIE
END.

The sowing Of seed is a most i'm
portant operation to the gardener:
fully four-fif hs of the failures of seed
10 terminate are due directly TO his
ignorance or carelessness. The para
Bile OF the sower may be read with
proIt by the amateur gardener. The
first point to consider in sowing seed
is The depth at which it should be
placed. Most catalogues give this in
formation, or it is printed on the seed
envelope; the second is the condition
of the soil, and last but not least the
condition in which the soil above the
seed is left,
Seed should not be sown when the
soil is wet, but when it is a fine.
moist. crumbly condition, if possible
When it is very dry and there is no
prospect of rain, the seed may be
sown and the soil given a thorough
watering from the nose of the water
ing can-never from the spout, Dip
per or pail, as this packs the soil
and leaves 1t in a condition to bake
and part with its moisture rapidly.
After planting for the seed at the
required uepth for that particular
seed, the soil must be drawn over it
and pressed down firmly with the feet
or piece of board with handle to
it for beans, beets AID other seeds.
This is absolutely indispensable.
Seeds planted in the dry ground and
merely covered may lie in the ground
for weeks without terminating I'M
less a rain comes to their relief, and
even then the proportion which ger
inmates will be small and the plants
not of the best.
The reason for this is obvious. The
first thing the seed does when germi-
nation takes place is to throw out
some minute roots which Immediately
begin TO feel around for something to-
which to attach themselves and from
which to draw nourishment Planted
In loose soil, the seed often lies in al
pocket. tiny indeed. but sufficient to
prevent it from reaching the food
which lies just beyond, and before the
rootlets have made sufficient growth
to reach it, they have persisted of
drouth and hunger. When the earth
is packed snugly about the seed this
danger is averted. The moisture of
the soil. lying in close contact with
seed, causes it to swell and sprout
once and the roots take hold on the
soil and begin to grow.
Where seeds are planted sufficiently
deep, as peas, which should be four
inches below the surface, the rake
should be run lightly over the ground
after it is thoroughly tramped to pro
duce a fine dust mulch, which will pre-
vent the earth from drying out. This
must be done very lightly. however, to
avoid disturbing the soil too much and
a lawn or iron garden rake which has |
been worn down to within an inch |
and a half of the base should be used, |
rather than a garden rake of full |
length teeth.
Cultivation of the garden should be
gin almost at once, especially if heavy |
rains follow planting and a hot sun
afterward bakes the soil Often the |
use of the rake will be sufficient to
keep the surface loose and to discour- |
age the growth of weeds until the
seeds are up and the plants are large
enough TO see. AT this stage it will be
to pull the weeds between
the plants with the fingers. The hand
cultivator will keep The ground be
tween the rows clean.
Transplanting is an art by itself. 1t
is quite possible to raise hotbed of
fine plants and then lose the greater
part of them by acknowledgement, and
yet there is nothing simpler or easier
when understood. Before transplant
ing time comes. the plants should have
been gradually hardened OFF by leav-
ing the sash OFF more and more until
for a week or so no protection at ali
IS given and the plants are allowed to
become dry between waterings. This
toughens them, and when a dry spell
efcrtakes them In the garden they are
less affected by it.
The night before they are to be
they should be very thor
oughly watered that the earth may be
N condition TO adhere to the roots
md that they may have absorbed as
much water as possible. A period OF
lear bright weather is as favorable
IS any for trausplanting. A season of
amy weather with cloudy days is
'qual'y good, but brief showers fol-
owed by hot sun makes of all varie-
!es the mos. unfayorahle
Only as many plants should be lifted /
Il time as may be gotten into the
round before they wilt, and every
hing necessary for the operation
hould be got ready before the plants
IRE disturbed.
In aking the plavts from the hot
.e,is they should he lifted with care,
.ot pulled up like weeds Pass the
rowal down beside them its entire
aneth. liza og1t @ chunk OF plants WITH
he earth about them and separate
herr RS they are set. 10 not set the
iSh containing them in the hot SIM
tbile planure is going on but shade
hem with III body or az. umbrella.