CHILDREN'S GARDENS 119 



most important bit of knowledge for this child now ? " 

 Transplanting lettuce. As soon as the lettuce, 

 which was planted in the corner of the plot, is about 

 two inches high, it should be transplanted between the 

 groups of onions, one plant in a place. In transplant- 

 ing this lettuce care should be taken to make the in- 

 struction a model lesson so that children will have a 

 clear idea of what should be done in transplanting all. 

 small plants. 



First water the lettuce patch. With the cultivating 

 stick make holes about three inches deep, one hole 

 between each onion group, and large enough to re- 

 ceive the plants. Into the hole pour about half a cup 

 of water. Then insert the cultivating stick under one 

 of the small lettuce plants at the end of the row, and 

 lift it carefully, retaining some earth, and taking care 

 not to break the roots. Place this plant in the hole, 

 and holding it with the thumb and two fingers of the 

 left hand in such a way as to hold the small leaves to- 

 gether and keep earth out of the heart, with the right 

 hand draw some earth about the plant, filling up the 

 hole. With the thumb and first finger of each hand 

 close together at the crown (which is where the leaves 

 start from the top of the root), press the plant firmly 

 into the ground. When finished, the plant should be 

 set about as deep as it was when growing before, and 

 should be in a very slight depression in the earth, so 

 that when watered the water will fall toward the root 

 and not away from it. If the plants are quite large 

 when transplanted, about one-third of the leaf surface 



