Evening star., 1914-07-12


in rows. As soon as they are sowed and
properly covered-in the case of large
seeds and very fine, dry eoil-the soil
must be packed down with the hands or
a small board or a heavy piece of card
board.
Then the seeds should be thorouhs1y
watered- with an atomixer. Or some other
fine spray.
The next thing to do IL to make q frame
at each end Of the seed bed. Two posts
at each end will do, or the side OF an old
crate. From one frame to the other
stretch piece Of loosely woven burlap
or two thicknesses Of cheesecloth This
covering Is to break the force Of rain,
which might otherwise wash out the seeds
and seedlings, and 1t is also to break
less otherwise cake the surface Of the
ground. The covering can be removed
every day to give the ground a good sun
ming and watering.
AS soon as the seedlings appear extra
precautions must be taken to keep the
Soil from caking. and so suddenly end
ing their young lives. II it is kept moist
but never flooded with water and IL Il il
scratched with little stick to break up
the surface. until the seedlings are big
enough so that a hand rake or weeder
can be safely used for this purpose, there
Is little danger of caking.
III the seedlings come up close together
you must unf1inchingly thin them out 80
that each little seeding stands alone. At
this stage OF growth they are too young
to be transplanted. and the few that YOU
pull up and throw away must be sacri-
hced to the many strong ones You desire
81
Transplanting time Is uncertain. And
the best way to find out when the right
fyna &c 10
riety Of plant When the little plant is
sturdy, with three sets Of leaves. perhaps
you can make your first experiments
The bed into which the plants are trans
planted must be carefully prepared. like
the seed bed. or. II the plants are to be
put in their permanent position. the soil
of their permanent home must be well
pulverized.
from the time you begin the work of
transplanting until twenty-four hours
after you finish it, you will probably be
successful with them at almost any stage
babyhood is passed. II you let them dry
out. you may be almost sure Of failure.
AS soon as the place to which they are
to be transplanted is chosen. start to
work. Choose the late afternoon or early
evening. If possible. Have a shallow pan,
In which there Is half an inch OF water.
and as you lift out each Seeding. with a
small trowel-or an iron kitchen spoon
lay 1t in the water. When you have per
haps dozen uprooted seedlings. go to
their new home and carefully put them
in. Then water thoroughly with q spray
and go back for more.
in the morning wet all the little plants
again with a fine spray. II the day gives
promise Of much heat. stretch a shelter
ing screen Of burlap or cheesecloth over
the plants, or else make little tents OF
newspaper to shelter them. II the day
Is damp, or IL there is q fine dhxxie you
may think yourself lucky. for drixzly
weather Is ideal transplanting weather.
II the small plants arc to Be- as1in
transplanted to their permanent homA DO
1t so that they will grow strong roots
in their last resting place before the FIRST
frosts. And remember always. when you
are plying the hose. that a thorough wet
ting is the. only sort to give. really
good watering every second day 10 bet
ter than a sprinkling every day. for the
deep water makes the roots thrust down
into the earth for their water supply.
Then when for some reason a drought
comes-when you go away on your sum-
mer vacation. perhaps-your garden has
deep roots that may find water below the
surface. II the garden is hapituahy
sprinkled, the roots will be near the sur
face and will be unable to SHIFT for them
selves in case Of drought