132 THE BEGINNER'S GARDEN BOOK 



of the day. The plants have each had a shock, since in 

 spite of all our pains we must have torn away some of their 

 fine roots. In compensation for this loss at the roots I often 

 nip off a part of a leaf, or even a whole one. Not until the 

 next day do I put the plants in the sun again. 



It may be asked, why do we need to thin or transplant ? 

 Why not sow the seed at two-inch distances at the first, so 

 as to save the labor and the shock to the plants? The 

 answer is that, if not done too early or too often, trans- 

 planting is good for the plants. The little shock prepares 

 them for the next one ; and besides, they are encouraged 

 to grow a thick mass of fibrous roots, easy to handle, rather 

 than long wandering roots that 'will be injured. They are 

 thus the better fitted to be moved again, as they must be if 

 they are to be set outdoors. 



But the cucurbits, as we have seen, must not be trans- 

 planted at all. We content ourselves by pulling out of 

 each box all the plants except the strongest. The others 

 we may try to save by transplanting, but we are likely 

 to lose them. 



Once the plants are safely transplanted (and for a couple 

 of days we shall watch anxiously to see that all are doing 

 well) we treat them much as before, with cultivating and 

 watering. From time to time we turn a different side to the 

 sun. If again the plants crowd they should again be trans- 

 planted, which after the first trial is now easy. It is not 

 difficult to handle plants ; even the least experienced, if 

 only he is interested, can learn to manage them. The 

 pleasure in watching the little things grow strong under his 

 care I will leave the reader to find out for himself. 



