Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1916-01-22

can then occupy the space thus made
vacant. and by the time these are
ready to transplant, and put outside
the earlier vegetables will have been
set out in the garden, so there will
again be room for the newcomers.
All this may seem lot of trouble
to go to; but, as a matter of fact
after the seeds are once planted, it
will require but a few minutes at
tention daily-and there is no garden
operation more intensely interesting
than closely watching the tiny seed
sprouts pushing their way up through
the soil, and growing daily larger and
stronger as they strive toward the
life giving light
Transplanting Methods.
At the end of a few weeks your
little plants will be ready for a shift,
and the sooner they are transplanted
after they are ready the better
Usually the forming of the third or
fourth true" leaf will indicate when
they are large enough, and they
should by this time each have nice
little bunch of rootlets to take hold
of the new soil. The most convenient
way of handling them is to transplant
into flats similar to those used Tor
sowing the seed, but about an inch
deeper. The soil used should be a
I little heavier-that is the proportions
of leaf mold and sand can be lessened,
or for strong growing vegetables such
as cabbage and lettuce, left out
altogether. But a little well-rotted
manure should be mixed in place of
this, to make the soil both richer and
! lighter. If this is not to be had con-
veniently, use the leaf-mold or chip
dirt in place of it, and mix with the
whole a little bone flour. which can
! be bought of the local dealer in
| fertilizers. Fill the fiat full of soil.
scatter a small handful of the bone
flour over it, enough to cover the
whole surface lightly, mix it in, and
put in the rest of the soil on top. If
| you can, however, mix the soil up
week or so ahead, using two or three
pints to a bushel of soil, as this
gives the bone a chance to become
more available for the immediate use
of the plants. Good drainage should
be assured by leaving holes or cracks
/ in the bottoms of the boxes, and by
putting a layer of coarse material in
/ the bottom of the box. Have the
earth moist, but not sticky, as If it is
either too wet or too dry it will great
| ly hamper your operations in trans
planting. If necessary, water it day
or two in advance. just as you did
for sowing the seeds, or it may be
Sub irrigated" in the same way.
Having all in readiness, with an old
knife lift out little bunch of the
seedlings, soil and all, as the little
rootlets are frail and break very
easily; next pull them gently apart,
letting as much earth as possible cling
to the roots, and lay them out on a
piece OF glass or shingle so they may
be readily picked up-take out only
few at time, to avoid any possibility
of the roots getting dried off. With
the left forefinger make a hole large
enough to take in the roots of a seed
ling and deep enough to cover it half
| or two thirds up the STEM and with
the right hand put the plant In place,
and with the tips of the thumbs and
forefingers OF both hands firm the
soil about it, pressing both downward
and inward toward the roots. After
the operation is completed, the little
plant should stand up straight and
stoclly, and be so firmly imbedded
that it can hardly be pulled up before
| breaking.
For three or four days after they
have been "pricked off. young seed
lings should be shaded from direct
bright sunshine during the middle af
the day-say II to 2 o'clock. If con-
dltions have been right, they will be-
come established by that time, and
grow very rapidly. They should re-
ceive the same general care as when
in the seed boxes. except that as they
gain strength they will require more
water and will be benefited by all
the fresh air that can be given them.
Using n Cold frame.
Ii 80 ~ 10,
are to be started, extra room will
have to be provided for them after
transplanting. The simplest way of
doing this is to provide a cold frame
simply a board frame extending a
few inches into the soil, about six
inches high in front and twelve in
back, and long enough to accommo-
date the number of "sashes" required
the regular size sash being three by
six feet and costing $3.50 TO $3.50
ready glazed and painted. But few
straight edged boards and old win
dows will answer the purpose. Storm
windows are just the thing, and as
lthey can be usually spared from the
house about the time they would be
wanted for this purpose, can thus
be made to do double service every
year. Whether kept in the house or
put outdoors in the frame as the
Iplants grow larger, and the weather
gets milder, they should be given
more and more air, and as soon as
the nights become sufficiently warm,
should be left uncovered. This pro-
cess not only keeps them in healthy
state, but makes them hardy, so that
the final shift to the garden will not
prove too much for them. If the tenn
lperature should Unexpectedly drop
some night and you find your cher
ished plants all stiff and icy in the
morning, don't despair, as such hardy