Growing Flowers 183 



When transplanting is being done, the soil of the 

 garden bed should be well watered before the plants 

 are set in it. If the earth does not adhere to the 

 roots of the plants, the soil should be very wet, 

 and dry earth may be placed on the surface after 

 the plant has been firmly imbedded. The dry 

 earth will give firmness and help to keep the plant 

 in position. 



Always before transplanting, the soil should be 

 well fertilized and cultivated. If the soil is sifted, 

 so much the better. Young roots are tender and 

 will find difficulty in forcing themselves through 

 hard lumps of earth. 



In transplanting large plants, be sure to set them 

 deeply enough into the earth, water the roots well, 

 and press the soil down firmly with the foot after 

 the plant is in position. To use a hoe may cause 

 a bruise or break from which the plant may never 

 recover. 



Plants which are to stand a distance from each 

 other should be fertilized independently. Too 

 heavy fertilization may burn up the plant but a 

 safe fertilizer into which to dip the roots of plants 

 being transplanted consists of a mixture of cow ma- 

 nure, water, and clay. The roots should be dipped 



