Culture 
19 
a slim point — the slimmer it is the bet- 
ter, for tiny seedlings. Or something 
much smaller may be used— any stick whit- 
tled down to this form; the large form is 
necessary for heavy work, but a match will 
serve for this kind. Thrust it down into 
the earth to make the hole to receive the 
plant, and make this as deep as the length 
of the roots, plus half the stem. Lower 
the little plant into it until only half the 
length of its stem remains above ground: 
then press the dibble into the soil again, 
an inch from the first hole, and crowd the 
earth over and against the roots by tilt- 
ing the top of it. Firm it finally by press- 
ing lightly down on each side of the stem 
with the balls of the thumbs, but do not 
pack it as tightly as you feel that you 
can. The idea is to get all the little root 
hairs in contact with earth, and to do this 
without dragging against them from any 
direction; and this final pressure down 
is only to close up all gaps in the earth 
that may be anywhere about the plant, not 
to push it down into the earth. 
Water thoroughly after transplanting 
— the soil, not the tops of the plants — 
and then give the seedlings all the fresh 
