36 GARDENING INDOORS AND UNDER GLASS 
Find a table or bench of the right height upon 
which to work comfortably. With a flat stick, or 
with a transplanting fork (which can be had for 
fifteen cents) lift a bunch of the little plants out, 
dirt and all, clear to the bottom of the box. Hold 
this clump in one hand and with the other gently 
tear away the seedlings, one at a time, discarding 
all crooked or weak ones. Never attempt to pull 
the seedlings from the soil in the flat, as the little 
rootlets are very easily broken off. They should 
come away almost intact, as shown facing page 48. 
Water the seed flats the day previous to transplant- 
ing, so that the soil will be in just the right condi- 
tion, neither wet enough to make the roots sticky, 
nor so dry as to crumble away. 
Take the little seedling by the stem between the 
thumb and forefinger, and with a small round 
pointed stick or dibber, or with the forefinger of 
the other hand, make a hole deep enough to re- 
ceive the roots and about half the length — more 
if the seedlings are lanky — of the stem. ‘As the 
little plant is dropped into place, the tips of both 
thumbs and forefingers, by one quick, firm move- 
ment, compress the earth firmly both down on the 
roots and against the stem so that the plant sticks 
upright and may not readily be pulled out. Of 
course there is a knack about it which cannot be 
put into words —TI could have pricked off a hun- 
dred seedlings in the time I am spending in trying 
