Starting the Plants 87 



in good condition, the better. I consider this one 

 of the advantages of the "sub-irrigation" method of 

 preparing the seed flats, described above. 



Transplanting : Under this care the Httle seed- 

 lings will come along rapidly, as shown in the two 

 stages illustrated facing p. 83. When the second 

 true leaf is forming they will be ready for trans- 

 planting or "pricking off," as it is termed in garden 

 parlance. If the plants are at all crowded in the 

 boxes, this should be done just as soon as they are 

 ready, as otherwise they will be injured by crowding 

 and more likely to damp off. 



Boxes similar to the seed-flats, but an inch deeper, 

 are provided for transplanting. Fill these with soil 

 as described for frames — sifted through a coarse 

 screen (chicken-wire size) and mixed with one-third 

 rotted manure. Or place an inch of manure, which 

 must be so thoroughly rotted that most of the heat 

 has left, in the bottom, and fill in with soil. 



Find or construct a table or bench of convenient 

 height, upon which to work. With a flat piece of 

 stick or one of the types of transplanting forks lift 

 from the seedling box a clump of seedlings, dirt and 

 all, clear to the bottom. Hold this clump in one 

 hand and with the other gently tear away the seed- 

 lings, one at a time, discarding all crooked or weak 

 ones. Never attempt to pull the seedlings from the 

 soil in the flats, as the little rootlets are very easily 



