The First Book of Farming

Pla

OULD SEEDS

irst seed and against the glass. Continue this till the top of the glass is reached (Fig. 2). Leave the last seed not more than one-fourth inch below the top of the soil. The soil should be moist at the start and the seeds should all be ag

and plant seeds of corn and beans and peas at depths of one-quarter inch, one inch, two inches, three inches, and four inches. These seeds can best be put in as the box is being filled. Hold each individual seed agains

surface because they send up only a slender shoot, which can easily force its way through the soil. The deep-planted beans will make a strong effort but will not succeed in forcing their way to the surface because they are not able to lift the large seed-leaves through so much soil, and will finally give up the struggle. If a

ich do not. Large, strong seeds like corn, peas, etc., which do not lift their cotyledons a

G.

e the curved hypocotyls pulling the seed-

G.

. A slender growing point pushes straight up th

G.

ig 42, forty-eight hours after removing the cotyledons from plant B. Plant B,

hem rather thickly in order that by the united strength of many seeds they may more readily come to the surface. This point

eshly stirred soil and may be pl

small quantities of any one variety are planted, a mach

rake handle (Fig. 47), using a line or the edge of a board as a guide

ol or walking on the row and pressing it with the feet. This pressing of the soil over the seeds is to bring the particles of

take a small pasteboard box or tin spice or baking-powder box, and punch a small hole

and and horse-power drills and broadcasters are generally

adcasted by hand or machine, and are then

ith the grain drill the seed is deposited at a uniform depth and at regular intervals. In broadcasting, so

e is a loss of about one-fifth of the seed

eed, the grains are gener

e-corn-planters, which drop a certain number

lls made for planting vegetabl

idered in seed drills or s

d durability

of

nted, and in the distances apart a

to the character of the plant. Bushy, spreading plants and tal

seed-growing tools as possible to see how they are constructed and

hines will be found in seed catalogues, hardware catalogu

LASSIF

squares of cardboard. Arrange them in groups according to resemblances or relationships, comparing not only the seeds but the plants on which they grew. If you cannot recall the plants, and there

stard Family: Ni

ustard,

Cabbage

liflower,

llards,

Brussels

ale, Goose

ass, Kohl

rass, Rad

Ruta Baga

Grass. Turnips

erc

y: Pea or L

histle Family

choke, Canad

Cardoon,

hicory,

Dandelion

Endive, L

ettuce, V

n, Salsif

Sunflower

. Alf

ey Fa

y Family: Ma

Asparagu

Garlic

nder,

n, O

nn

rs

rs

G.

was carefully removed from the plant on the right when both plants

G.

seeds 2, 3 and 4 all pushed their slender growing points to the surface. Of the beans, No. 6 succeeded in pulling the cotyledons to the surface, and has made a good p

SPLA

the field or garden. When the seedlings have developed three or four leaves or have become large enough to crowd one another, th

d of transplanting

tion of t

ition of

ion of the

uld be well grown, strong and stocky, with well

ns being present, the plants are carefully lifted from the seed bed with as little disturbance of the roots as possible and carried to the

venient tool, the roots of the plant are carefully placed in it and the soil is pressed about th

ransplanted in the field in the following manner: Open the furrow with a small plow, knock the plants out of the pots or cans

ses the roots of the plants should be dipped in water or in thin mud just before setting them, or a little water may be poured into each hole as the plant is put in. The soil should always be well firmed about the roots. The firming

. This can be done readily with some plants, such as cabbage and lettuce, by taking a

G.

ill; 2, dropping the seeds; 3, covering the s

G.

planter. The one on the left, a potato planter. The one on the right, a corn, bean

ly spring, which is their dormant or resting season, as this gives the injured roots a chance to recov

prepared for it and the soil carefully filled in and packed about the roots. After the plant is set, the top should be trimmed back to correspond with the loss of root. If the p

of them require more time to operate than is consumed in hand planting. A number of large machines for transplanting are in successful and

or in the open soil and see how many of