How to Grow Plants from Seeds 



193 



air and light to harden them properly. The plants will 

 often become more tender when thus covered. 



It is best to reset plants late in the afternoon or during 

 damp, cloudy weather if possible. In transplanting leafy 

 plants like lettuce and cabbage, it is a common practice 

 to cut or shear away part of the larger leaves and thus 

 decrease loss of water by reducing the leaf surface. 

 Plants grown in pots, berry boxes, or dirt bands can be 

 transplanted with very little injury to the root system. 



If compelled to buy plants for transplanting, the 

 gardener should select the most stocky plants and in- 

 sist that they be carefully removed from the earth, 





U. S. D. A. 



FIG. 115. The effect of transplanting on the root development of celery plants. 

 The two plants at the left were transplanted several times ; those at the right 

 were grown without transplanting. 



