STARTING PLANTS 147 
From the standpoint of economy of space, early trans- 
planting is a disadvantage, but it is unquestionably best 
from the standpoint of growing strong, stocky plants. 
Lettuce is often transplanted before the true leaves are 
formed. 
There is the greatest diversity of practice in methods 
of transplanting. Spotting boards of different kinds are 
made to mark the soil in the flats or beds. They may be 
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Fig. 51.—Spotting board used in transplanting lettuce. 
provided with slight projections which merely indicate 
the places where the plants are to be set or they may 
contain pegs (Fig. 51) which when forced into the soil 
and withdrawn make holes for the roots of the plants. 
The latter plan saves time and, properly executed, results 
in straight rows uniformly spaced. 
The soil may be pressed firmly to the roots of the 
plants with the fingers, or a small dibber may be found 
convenient for this purpose. The plan should be used 
which is most convenient to the gardener. Soil of the 
proper moisture content is even more important for trans- 
planting than for seed sowing. Some water is generally 
applied after the plants are shifted, though this is un- 
necessary if the soil is as moist as it can be made without 
being too wet. When plants are shifted from pots of one 
size to those of a larger size, a little earth is first placed 
in the bottom of the pot, and soil is then packed between 
the ball of earth and the side of the pot. A common 
