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VEGETABLE GARDENING 



single shovel plow, provided it is operated by a competent 

 man. The making of straight rows without a line, espe- 

 cially on uneven ground, requires considerable skill. 



206. Depth to transplant. — Plants should generally be 

 set slightly deeper than they stood in the seed bed. It is 

 often an advantage to cover the stem 

 up to the seed leaves. It is especially 

 important to set spindly plants deep, 

 especially when there is danger of 

 freezing weather. In the South fall- 

 set cabbage plants should always be 

 planted up to the leaves, as this will 

 enable them to stand the winter with 

 much less damage than if set shal- 

 lower. 



207. Transplanting by hand. — Vari- 

 ous devices are used for hand trans- 

 planting. The usual tools are the 

 dibbers and the trowels, illustrated in 

 Figures 33 and 34. The dibbers are 

 especially valuable for light or sandy 

 soils, while the trowel is best for stiffer 

 soils. When transplanting the dibber 

 is thrust into the soil to the required 

 depth with the right hand, and after 

 removal the left hand places the plant 

 in the hole. The soil is either pressed 

 to the roots with the hands, or the dibber is again thrust 

 into the soil near the plant, and with a quick movement 

 the soil is pressed against the roots. Trowels and spades 

 may be used in a similar manner, and trowels and hoes 

 may be used in opening holes immediately before plant- 

 ing. The removed ground should be pressed firmly over 

 and around the roots. Figure 35 shows a useful setter, 

 which has been patented ; it works very well in fine soil, 

 and applies water when desired. After some practice, 



FIG. 35. USEFUL 

 PLANT SETTER 



