SEED SOWING AND TRANSPLANTING. 49 



soil should be thoroughly wet before digging so that the small 

 roots will not be broken in separating the plants. The best 

 time of day for transplanting is generally after 4 p. m., as after 

 that time the moisture in the air increases rapidly and the 

 plants have the cool night air in which to recover before being 

 subjected to the intense rays of the sun. Of course if the 

 weather is cloudy the plants may be set out at any time of the 

 day. If a little shade can be provided for the newly set plants 

 so much the better. This may consist of boxes, boards slightly 

 raised from the ground, shingles, inverted flower pots, paper bags, 



Figure 18. — Tomato plants grown in a compartment box to facilitate 

 transplanting. Such boxes can be bought for a very low price and 

 are very convenient aids for transplanting- many kinds of plants. 

 They are especially desirable when plants are to be sold at retail. 



a handful of green grass, strawberry boxes or similar material 

 that will protect the plants from the fierce rays of the sun. 



Firming the soil about the roots is fully as important as 

 firming the soil over the seeds and for the same reasons. It 

 should be so firmly and closely packed that the plants cannot 

 be pulled up without considerable effort. The drier the soil 



