The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-04-09
TREASURE STATE FARM AND LIVESTOCK
OF HOT-BED
GROWN PLANTS
FrOm Montana State College)

(By @. @. STARRING, HOrticuI-
tural Department, Montana State
COIlege).
nLANTS that have been grown in
a warn rOOm or a hOtbed should
\ not be moved Out-Of-dOors until
they have been properly hardened, or
in other words, gradually accustomed
to outdoor temperatures. Boxes Of
plants may be set out first during the
warmer part Of the day and then
gradually hardened by leaving them
out a little longer each day until
they become accustomed to outdoor
conditions and finally are left out all
night. Plants growing in hOtbeds or
cold frames are hardened by giving
a little more ventilation each day un-
til the glass is finally left off entirely.
1t is also a good plan during the pro-
cess Of hardening to withhold water
so as to check growth.
Nothing is gained by moving
warm-seasOn crops like tomatoes, Gu
cumbers or melons out of doors I'M
til the soil and the nights are fairly
warm. If properly hardened, cab
bage and cauliflOwer plants may be
moved to the field before danger of
frost is past.
If possible, choose a cloudy day for
tTansplanting. It is also a good plan
to move plants in the evening rather
than in the morning.
Plants of medium size are moved
more successfully than either very
small or very large plants. Do not
start seed too early and do not
move plants to the field until they
are we'll established in the soil il
which they are growing.
Plants that are to be transplanteC
should be thoroughly watered sew
eraI hours before they are shifted
This insures that the tissues of the
plant will be we'll filled with water
and in condition to best survive the
ordeal.
The plants should be lifted from
the soil carefully so that wheneve.
possible some of the soil will clinl
to the roots. It is not necessary tt
save all the root system in moving
the plants, in fact, too much root ma,
be saved in some instances. It sci
dom pays to save roots more than twu
inches long when they are bare o
soil.
About One-half of the total lea
surface should be removed when tn
plant is moved Out-Of-dOOrs. Entir
leaves or parts of leaves may be Gu
away.
; The soil must be we'll packed abOU
the newly transplanted plant. If tn
soil is left loose the roots cannot al
lsOrb the moisture readily.
S When it is possible to water ate
= transplanting, it is best not to hav
f the soil, into which the plants are sc
: too moist. Plants set into boxes 70
e further growth indoors are best We
tered by setting these flats in waite
for a few minutes. The water shOul
stand about half way up the sides {
S the box. In the irrigated garden,
d is well to furrOw out the rows an
b set the plants along the edge of til
l. furrOW. Then run water into the flu,
row until the moisture sOaks we'll U
to the plants. Three or four houl
n after the water is turned off, fill IL
furrOw and pull up fresh, loose so
about the base of the plants to cheC
irapid loss of moisture from the sol
Even in nOn-irrigated garden it is u
ually possible and very desirable
water plants when they are first s.
out. In this case the plants are u
ually set in holes, the holes are on
partly filled with soil, and then sU
d ficient water added to thoroughly sc
j. tie the soil about the roots. Aft
this has soaked away, the hole shOu
be filled with loose soil.