226 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 
bottom for drainage; on this place a layer of about an 
inch of coarse material (fibrous loam or manure) such as 
Fie. 127. Picking 
up a Seedling with 
a Dibble 
will not go through the screen. Then fill 
in soil to within half an inch of the top. 
Pack the soil down carefully, so that 
there will be no pockets or vacant spaces 
in the corners or along the sides. 
Taking up seedlings. Water the seed- 
lings the day before they are to be taken 
up, so that the soil will be in good con- 
dition. With a flat stick or a transplant- 
ing fork lift out a clump of soil with 
seedlings. Take them out of the clump 
carefully, one at a time; injure the root 
hairs as little as possible, and discard all weak plants. 
Planting seedlings indoors. Plants put 
in boxes should be set in rows two inches 
apart each way and one inch from the 
sides and ends of the boxes. In case 
flowerpots or tin cans are to be used, put 
one strong plant in each. Make a hole 
with a dibble, pick up a plant with the 
fingers, and put it in place, or, if the 
seedling is a very small one, pick it up 
with a dibble, as indicated in Fig. 127. 
Care must be taken that no part of the 
Fig. 128. A Tomato 
Plant 
The line on the plant 
indicates the depth 
to which it should 
be planted 
delicate seedling is crushed. Set the plant deeper than it 
stood in the germinating box (see Fig. 128). Parts of long, 
slender roots may be pinched off to induce branching. 
