THE SEEDLINGS, INDOORS 



131 



the earth around them with the free hand, and then, laying 

 down the trowel, with the fingers of both hands we firm the 

 earth around the plant. ; 



Of course the first attempt is clumsy, but we learn with 

 practice. The operation which at first needed a couple of 

 minutes, we presently accomplish in a few seconds. We 

 set all the plants from the old flat into the new one, or the 



Fig. 71. — Seedlings of Cabbage. 



The first pair of true leaves is well grown. On the first plant the second 

 pair is budding. 



new ones, placing them now two inches apart from each 

 other. When we have finished we survey the flat. 



Truly, it does not look very neat. Our fingers have 

 pinched the earth closely around the plants, so that these 

 stand in little hillocks, with valleys in between. We must 

 therefore take earth from the first flat and fill all hollows, 

 making the surface even. If the soil seems dry, we may 

 water ; indeed, it is a good practice to water after trans- 

 planting, to make sure that the soil particles get close to the 

 roots. Finally we set the flat in a shady place for the rest 



