Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-03-08

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 a limited number Of plants is by
means of a shallow box in u 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 mean
of hotbeds or cold frames. A hotbed
6 feet by 6 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
to make it uniform in composition and
mechanical condition. Make the eXca-
walton for the bed about IS inches deep
and put in 10 to IS inches of fresh
manure, packing it well by trampling.
Arrange d frame over the manure, Sc
the slope will be to the south. Place
4 or 5 inches of good garden loan i've
the manure and cover the frame with
q hotbed sash or heavy canvas, pre-
ferably the former. The manur 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 temperature goes down to 80 de-
gress or IS degrees f. After the seeds
have been planted, close attention
should be given to the watering and
ventilation of the bed. The 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
plants to dry before night. Ventilate
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 an
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.
Transplanting.
For the best results, plants started
In boxes, hotbeds, or cold frames
should be transplanted when they
reach a height of 1 to 2 inches. Trans
planting tends to produce uniform,
stocky plants with a w~ell-developed
root system. The seedlings may be
transplanted to boxes or to the hotbed
or cold frame, to stand about 2 inches
apart each way. Some growers trans
| plant twice before setting in the open
ground. Fig. 3 shows two celery
plants from the same seeding. The
one at the left vas transplanted, while
that at the right was allowed to re.
main in the seeded until time fol-
planting in the garden.
Hardening Off.
Plants growing in a house, hOtbed, OF
Geld 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
tons during the day in good weather
If the plants are in a hotbed or colo
frame, the covers may be removed dur
ing the day when the weather is goo(
and replaced toward nightfall. Aftel
danger of frosts is past the covers ma,
he left off at night. By the time the
plants are large enough to be trans
planted to the garden they should b.
thoroughly accustomed to outdoor con
ditions. Such plants usually with
Sand the transfer to the garden will
l.ttle check and few losses.
Getting Plants in the Open Ground.
Before taking the plants from thu
BED it should be thoroughly watereC
and the water allowed 10 soak int
the ground. This will insure a portion
of the soil adhering to the roots ant
will prevent serious willing OF th'
checking of growth. Take up tn,
plants with a trowel or spade and pacl
them in boxes or baskets in which t,
carry them to the field.