120 CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



should be pinched off, and great care should be taken 

 to press the earth firmly about them in finishing the 

 transplanting. The roots also should be straightened 

 out in the hole and not doubled up in a knot. It may 

 be necessary to transplant in the hot sun, or on a very 

 windy day. In this case all plants that have been 

 taken up for transplanting should be protected care- 

 fully against sun and wind, and kept cool and moist 

 by wet covers until planted. After being set they 

 may be protected during the first day only, by small 

 covers of newspaper, or flowerpots. After the first 

 day these covers should be taken off. Sometimes very 

 young plants have to be protected in this way against 

 flocks of sparrows. 



After this transplanting there are usually a number 

 of lettuce plants left in the corner of the plot, and a 

 couple of weeks later these can be gathered while still 

 small and will make a dainty salad of tender young 

 lettuce. At the end of six or seven weeks the trans- 

 planted lettuce should be ready for harvesting. Gather 

 one or two heads at a time and with them a few of 

 the small onions. 



The first radish is usually an event of much im- 

 portance. The Scarlet Globe radish matures early. 

 The brilliant red radish with its dark green leaves is a 

 thing of beauty much prized by the children. The 

 children should be taught how much better the quickly- 

 grown, crisp, tender ones are than the tough, pithy 

 ones. Radishes have been esteemed for centuries, and 

 the knowledge so easily given the children here, will 



