26 A MANUAL OF 



the first little root started downwards. The 

 coverings are then removed, frequent but small 

 waterings given, and, if the weather is sunny, 

 a partial shade placed over the beds to prevent 

 the tender plants being scorched in their earli- 

 est infancy. 



TRANSPLANTING. This is one of the most 

 important of all hot-bed operations. An abun- 

 dance of good, fine, fibrous roots cannot be 

 obtained without several times transplanting 

 the young plants. Different species of plants 

 are, of course, benefited to a different degree 

 by this operation. For instance, the cabbage 

 and kindred plants only require room to 

 develop roots and grow in a natural, short, 

 and stocky form ; hence only one removal from 

 the crowded seed-bed to new quarters, where 

 they are two or three inches distant from each 

 other, is all they require to produce good 

 plants, while tomatoes and other plants of 

 similar habits throw out new roots readily, 

 wherever the stem is covered with soil ; hence, 

 if frequently removed, and each time not only 

 given more room to spread, but each time set 

 deeper in the soil than formerly, an astonish- 

 ing amount of fibrous roots may be obtained, 

 and the more numerous the fibres in propor- 



