The Mount Holly news., 1918-03-12

prepared by the UNITED States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
In most sections of the South it is
desirable to start plants of certain
crops before the danger of frost has
passed. The simplest method of start
ing q limited number of plants is by
means of shallow box in south win
dow of the dwelling. After the plants
appear, the box should be turned each
day, to prevent the plants drawing to-
ward the light. A more satisfactory
method of starting plants is by means
of hotbeds or cold frames. A hotbed
6 feet by feet will be large enough
for the average-sized garden and can
be constructed rather cheaply. In the
colder regions of the South some form
of heat should be supplied. Fresh ma
nure from the horse stable will be
found satisfactory for this purpose.
Turn the manure two or three times
before placing it in the bed, in order
to make it uniform in composition and
mechanical condition. Make the eXca-
walton for the bed about 1S inches deep
and put in 15 to IS inches of fresh
manure, packing it well by trampling.
Arrange a frame over the manure, so
the slope will be to the south. Place
or inches of good garden loan over
the manure and cover the frame with
q hotbed sash or heavy canvas, pre-
ferably the former. The manure will
heat quite rapidly for the first few
days. During that time ventilate the
bed frequently, to allow the gases to
escape and to lower the temperature.
The seeds should not be planted until
the temperature goes down to so de-
gress or S5 degrees r. After the seeds
have been planted, close attention
should be given to the watering and
ventilation Of the bed. Tie soil should
never be allowed to dry out. but it
should not be kept water-soaked. MOis-
ture is necessary for the termination
of the seed and for the growth of the
plants, but an excess of moisture
should be avoided, as it stimulates the
development of diseases, especially
damping-off. Water should be applied
early enough in the day to allow the
DidllIS W tly DClOLC AfSlIs NChblitllC
the beds during the heated portion of
the day, but cover them in time to in
sure their warming up enough to pre-
vent chilling the plants during the
night.
In the lower South, cold frames may
be used instead of hotbeds, and can
vas or cotton cloth covers instead of
glass. The illustration shows a type
'of frame commonly used in the warm
er section of the South for starting
plants.
TranspIanting.
For the best results plants started
in boxes, hotbeds, or cold frames
should be transplanted when they
reach a height of 1 to inches. Trans
planting tends to produce uniform,
stocky plants with a well-developed
root system. The seedlings may be
transplanted to boxes or to the hotbed
or cold frame, to stand about inches
apart each way. Some growers trans
plant twice before setting in the open
ground. Fig 5 shows two celery
plants from the same seeding. The
one at the left was transplanted, while
that at the right was allowed to re-
main in the seedbed until time for
planting in the garden.
Hardening OF.
Plants growing in house, hotbed, or
cold frame should be hardened off be-
fore they are transplanted to the gar
den. This can be accomplished by ven.
tilation and exposure to outdoor condi-
tions during the day in good weather.
If the plants are in a hotbed or cold
frame, the covers may be removed dur
ing the day when the weather is good
and replaced toward nightfall. After
danger of frosts is past the covers may
be left, eff at night. BY the time the
plants are large enough to be trans
planted to the garden they should be
thoroughly accustomed to outdoor con-
ditions. Such plants usually with
stand the transfer to the garden with
little check and few losses.
Setting Plants in the Open Ground.
Before taking the plants from the
bed it should be thoroughly watered
and the water allowed to soak into
the ground. This will insure portion
Of the soil adhering to the roots and
will prevent serious whiting or the
checking of growth. Take up the
plants with trowel or spade and pack
them in boxes or baskets in which to