ON llIGll-i'RICED LAND 87 



fine dry soil to within an inch of the surface. Then I 

 very gently raise the plant one-half inch to adjust the 

 tiny roots in the soil. I fill the hole with water, then 

 complete the filling of the hole with the fine, dry soil, 

 and firm hard. I never lose a plant from wihing; 

 indeed, the growth is hardly checked. The secret of 

 transplanting is a generous application of water to 

 moisten the roots and compact the soil around them, 

 and then to cover this wet soil with dry to hinder 

 evaporation. 



I transplant tomatoes in this way : With a garden 

 trowel I dig a trench an inch deep next the stake, 

 and sloping from two to two and one-half inches at the 

 end away from the stake ; trenches from six inches to a 

 foot or more long, according to the size of the plants. 

 I pinch ofl" close tn the stem all the leaves of the plant 

 except those at the extreme end, lay the plant in the 

 trench, top toward the stake, fill the trench half full of 

 dry soil and pour in a half gill of water. As soon as 

 this settles away, I fill the trench with dry soil and firm 

 with my foot. Only three or four inches of the plant 

 remains above the ground, the root and naked stem 

 being buried. I prefer this way of planting because 

 roots will shoot out all along the buried stem and thus 

 give more root surface for the future support of the 

 plant. I do not care for specially large, stocky plants. 

 The plants set out to-day were not over eight 

 inches long. 



I prefer to transplant late in the afternoon in very 

 dry weather. Pour water into the trenches as 

 described and covering wath dry soil prevents evapo- 

 ration of water applied to the roots. My plants never 

 wilt and I never lose any from transplanting. My 

 plants are taken directly from the hotbed and planted 

 where they are to grow. I never transplant but once. 

 I do not care for short, stocky plants ; long, spindling 



