THE GARDEN PRIMER 



makes as good a dibble as may be had, but there are 

 occasions when a section of blroom handle, sharpened 

 like a long pointed pencil, is not a bit too big. A Kttle 

 practice with the tool will quickly teach you the size 

 appropriate for any particular plant. 



Lift the seedHng by taking one of its leaves care- 

 fully between the soft ball of the thumb and index 

 finger — you will be surprised at the ease with which you 

 will handle mere atoms of plants this way — not touch- 

 ing the body of the plant at all, nor allowing its roots 

 to come in contact with anything. Thrust the dibble 

 into the earth at the spot the plant is to occupy, 

 making a hole as deep or a little deeper than its 

 longest root; lower the seedHng into this hole until 

 it is as deep as it originally grew, then thrust the 

 dibble down once more, half an inch from it this 

 time, and by tilting the handle over towards it gently 

 press earth against and around its roots. If the hole 

 seems insufficiently filled after this, leaving the plant 

 unsteady and loosely set, thrust the dibble down at 

 another spot, or lay its point fiat onto the soil along- 

 side the plant's stem and press down until the earth 

 falls into place, filling the hole completely. Do not 

 pack the dirt, but make it firm and water moderately. 



Bear in mind that the plant which is frequently 

 transplanted endures the operation with much more 

 grace than one which is left long in one place. Fre- 

 quent transplanting tends to the development of a 

 more compact root system which will be made up of 

 many fine and hair-like short feeding roots instead 



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