282 THE BEGINNER'S GARDEN BOOK 



to take care of themselves. Therefore do not cover them 

 before nine o'clock, even on a hot day. And uncover 

 them as soon as the sun is halfway toward his setting. 



If you do a little thinking over what I have told you here, 

 you can easily make two rules that will help both you and the 

 plants through the struggle of transplanting. They are as 

 follows : 



On a sunny day, wait till late afternoon before trans- 

 planting. 



If there is no hurry, wait for a cloudy day, or just before a 

 rain. The rain will do half the work for both you and the 

 plants. 



For protection against cutworms, wind a strip of paper (a 

 collar) loosely around the plants when setting them. Let it 

 extend an inch above and an inch below the surface. 



One help you can give to your plants, but not until they 

 have begun to grow again. Fertilize them, lightly, with 

 nitrate of soda or liquid manure. 



The work of transplanting is an interesting one, and no 

 other makes a gardener so skillful with his fingers. Some 

 folk, when gardening, use gloves to protect the hands; but 

 with very small plants one cannot transplant with gloves on. 

 Take them off, and go at the work with bare fingers. Enjoy 

 the feel of the soil, learn to handle the plants delicately, and 

 be the more friendly toward them. You will like the work, 

 and will like, too, to see the plants presently thriving again. 

 One or two may die (and you will be wise to reserve a few 

 to fill gaps) , but most will live to reward you. 



Review Questions 



1. Why is transplanting necessary? 



2. Name one great aid in transplanting. 



