THE SEEDLINGS, INDOORS 



129 



was very thick, then they have been crowded from the 

 beginning. 



FIG. 69. Seedlings of squash, each with one true leaf just showing. The 

 others are cotyledons. 



As soon as we see that this has happened, we should recog- 

 nize the danger. If they crowd too closely, they may damp 

 off ; or in the struggle for plant food they may all grow weak 

 and " leggy," or too tall and thin. There are now two things 

 for the gardener to choose between. One is to transplant, 

 the other to thin, the plants. 



FIG. 70. Seedlings of tomato. The first pair of true leaves is just opening 



out. 



If the plants are crowded from the first, they must be 

 thinned, since when so young they cannot safely be moved. 



