106 GARDENS AND THEIR MEANING 



experiments in irrigation have been tried in small gardens 

 and have given such splendid results that even for tiny spaces 

 the method is becoming more and more popular. In one city 

 yard a clever arrangement of draintiles was devised by some 

 girls at home to secure water control. Even though so roughly 

 carried out, they considered the attempt a success ; but at 

 last accounts they were still at work trying to improve their 

 scheme. Such adventures help other explorers. Moreover, 

 they train a person's intelligence and fit him to comprehend 

 the big present-day problems of our wonderful country. 



When it comes to transplanting, success is largely depend- 

 ent upon a knowledge of the principles of watering. Any 

 one can go through the motions of transplanting, but few can 

 make every plant grow. The morning after is apt to reveal 

 many a flat failure. Young gardeners who have sometimes 

 met with poor luck will welcome a few practical hints. Begin 

 the process by removing each plant with as large a ball of 

 earth around its roots as possible. Trim off about one third 

 of the top, so as to diminish the leaf surface and thus check 

 evaporation. Set it well into the damp earth, spreading care- 

 fully any rootlets that straggle. Fill in now with earth and 

 pack the whole down well ; the plant should not loosen at 

 a gentle pull. Give it a sip of water at this crisis, if it looks 

 thirsty. If this is a case where growth is to be hurried along, 

 the water used may be some form of liquid manure or a solu- 

 tion of nitrate of soda. Add as the finishing touch a covering 

 of mulch. A young seedling is usually old enough to trans- 

 plant when it has attained the dignity of from four to six leaves. 



Do not be tempted to transplant in the open sunshine ; as 

 sure as fate the sun will evaporate the water through the 

 leaves before the roots get into working order. The best time 

 for transplanting, as for watering, is in the early evening or on 

 a cloudy day ; but busy folks cannot always choose, and plants 



