The Arizona copper camp. [volume] (Ray, Ariz.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-30
BY Mrs. J. T. More.
'EThe earth gets it's price for what
earth gives u.s."
Games Russell LOVELY

Some of the small plants in the gar
den or in the seed boxes are ready
for transplanting by this time Choose
a cloudy day, if possible, and if the
cloudy condition bespeaks rain, so
much the better; in the event that
cloudy days are not forthcoming,
evening is the best time. The plants
commonly chosen for TRANSFORMING
are: Cabbages, cauli1ower, tomatoes,
egg plants, peppers and the like. Other
varieties may be transplanted, but
one is not justified in going to the
trouble. There should be at least
three or four permanent leaves on the
plant if it is to be moved. Tomato
plants five or six inches in height will
stand transplanting.
Preparatory to changing the plants,
give them a thorough application of
water and see that their new bed is
spaded and the soil well pulverized.
Large clods of dirt allow air passages
to form, which cause the roots to dry
out quickly. Select the plant and re
move it from the seed box or from
the ground; take with it a generous
amount Of soil which, being wet,
should cling to the roots of the plant.
Dig hole of adequate size and trans
plant as quickly as possible. The
plant should be placed a little below
the surface of the ground Fill in
and firm the soil we'll around the
stem. If the soil is dry, water gen
erously; this is unnecessary if the
ground is moist. Each plant should
be covered with glass jar, if it is
set out early in the season. The mois-
ture is thereby retained, the plant is
assured Of protection from the cold
nights, and sunshine is given ready
access throughout the day. When the
transportation is made later in the
season, wooden berry box proves
the more suitable, as the plant then
needs protection from the hot sun for
several days after the change.
If the seedlings grow so closely to-
gether that it is impossible, in re-
moving them, to retain the soil
around the roots, pull them gently
from the ground and puddle" the
roots. This is accomplished by dig
ging a small hole near the seed bed,
partially filling it with water and stir
ring until a Shiny clay mixture is
formed: By placing the roots in this
hole, the clay mixture adheres, there
by forming coating of soil. Where
this method is used, the soil in the
permanent bed must be very moist
The vine crops, such as cucumbers,
melons, ETC., do not transplant so
readily as other plants. When an
early crop is desired, plant the seeds
in berry boxes filled with good soil,
and keep them in the house. AS the
time for transplanting approaches,
they will acquire the hardness nee
essary to insure proper growth. Each
box should contain two or three sturdy
plants. When the season of cold
nights has passed, cut off the bottoms
of the boxes and transplant without
removing the sides of the boxes. If
the edges of the boxes protrude above
the surface of the ground, protection
will be had from cutworms Tin cans
may be used in the place of berry
boxes; several holes should be punch
ed in the bottom of each can to pro-
vide drainage. Before setting the can
into the ground, cut away it's bottom
with can opener.
Those plants which we wish to put
in place of the early vegetables (such
as lettuce, radishes, beets and the
like, which will be ready for use
soon) may be started in the house-it
is not too late. Those who have tried
planting seeds directly in the ground
in hot weather know that the rapid
evaporation of moisture from the sur
face renders such practice almost
useless. By starting winter vegetables
in the house during the summer, us
ing either large seed boxes or small
berry boxes, stable plants can be
ready for setting out in the fall. To
matoes and cucumbers are especially
to this method and their