226 



SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 



FIG. 127. Picking 



up a Seedling with 



a Dibble 



bottom for drainage ; on this place a layer of about an 



inch of coarse material (fibrous loam or manure) such as 

 will not go through the screen. Then fill 

 in soil to within half an inch of the top. 

 Pack the soil down carefully, so that 

 there will be no pockets or vacant spaces 

 in the corners or along the sides. 



Taking up seedlings. Water the seed- 

 lings the day before they are to be taken 

 up, so that the soil will be in good con- 

 dition. With a flat stick or a transplant- 

 ing fork lift out a clump of soil with 

 seedlings. Take them out of the clump 

 carefully, one at a time ; injure the root 



hairs as little as possible, and discard all weak plants. 

 Planting seedlings indoors. Plants put 



in boxes should be set in rows two inches 



apart each way and one inch from the 



sides and ends of the boxes. In case 



flowerpots or tin cans are to be used, put 



one strong plant in each. Make a hole 



with a dibble, pick up a plant with the 



fingers, and put it in place, or, if the 



seedling is a very small one, pick it up 



with a dibble, as indicated in Fig. 127. 



Care must be taken that no part of the 



delicate seedling is crushed. Set the plant deeper than it 



stood in the germinating box (see Fig. 128). Parts of long, 



slender roots may be pinched off to induce branching. 



FIG. 128. A Tomato 

 Plant 



The line on the plant 



indicates the depth 



to which it should 



be planted 



