AMONG SCHOOL GARDENS 



watered very carefully so as not to dislodge them. 

 One may sink the flat in water and leave it until 

 moisture appears upon the surface of the soil. One 

 may water with a fine spray directly, or upon a layer 

 of thin porous paper, like tissue or newspaper. With a 

 greenhouse, the flats may be placed under the benches, 

 for the desirable thing is darkness, moderate warmth 

 and moisture until the little heads break through the 

 earth. Avoid too much wetness and gradually ac- 

 custom the baby plants to the strong sunshine or 

 they will damp off, rot at the surface of the soil and 

 wither even more quickly than if allowed to perish 

 for want of water. Greenhouse warmth is desirable 

 because bottom heat draws moisture down to the 

 forming roots while top heat tends to rapid evaporation 

 and consequent drying out. Label and Date. It is 

 better to have a uniform place for placing the label 

 and to put on it date of planting, name of plant and 

 the children's initials when they do the work them- 

 selves. 



Pricking out Seedlings. — When the little plants have 

 put forth their first or second leaves and perhaps have 

 become too crowded, or when they have grown larger 

 and it is still too cold to plant them out of doors, or 

 when there are not a sufficient number of small flower 

 pots for transplanting them, it will be necessary to 

 "prick out the seedlings." 



Soil: The same as for seedlings and the flats filled 

 in like manner. When moving the plants do not 

 attempt to take them out one by one, but first wet 

 the soil, then very carefully run the point of a trowel 

 or a flat pointed stick down the side of the flat until 

 it is below the roots. Take up an inch or two of earth 



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