284 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



older one. These may be regarded as analogous to the dormant 

 buds on branches, which show no signs of developing into buds 

 unless the branches are cut back and deprived of those buds 

 which would normally continue the branch-growth. For the 

 development of the dormant root-buds, as they may be 

 termed, intimate contact between the roots and the damp soil 

 is essential ; consequently, in transplanting a tree, gardeners 

 always insist on the necessity of getting the earth well shaken 

 in amongst the roots and contend that if the soil be too wet and 

 sticky at the time to admit of this being done planting should 

 not be attempted. This, so far as it goes, is sound practice. 

 A number of trees were planted in soil which was in a good 

 working condition, others in the same soil made unworkable by 

 adding water ; these latter made only two-thirds as much growth 

 as the former during the four years following the planting. 



Ramming 



But much more intimate contact between the roots and soil 

 can be secured by ramming the soil round the tree, as in fixing 

 a gatepost, especially if the soil be wet at the time : this unusual 

 method of planting, which has so horrified orthodox horti- 

 culturists, has been proved beyond question to yield in nearly 

 every case better results than the most careful planting in 

 the ordinary way. Such revolutionary methods of planting 

 were not advocated without ample practical trial. The experi- 

 ments, which extended over many years, involved the planting 

 of nearly 2,000 fruit-trees and bushes of various descriptions, 

 half of which were planted in the orthodox manner and half 

 rammed : the plantations were made in nearly twenty different 

 soils, ranging from light sand to heavy clay, situated in eight 

 different counties ; moreover, the planting was carried out by 

 many experienced planters as well as by the horticulturists at our 

 own farm. The results showed, as might be expected, con- 

 siderable variation but, on the whole, a very strong balance 

 in favour of ramming : roughly summarised, this was the case 

 in 72 per cent, of the different sets of experiments, whereas in 

 only 1 1 per cent, were the results somewhat unfavourable, the 

 remaining 17 per cent, being ambiguous. The superior vigour 

 of the rammed trees was manifested in every respect ; not only 

 was a greater length of new wood formed in the succeeding 

 year but the shoots were stouter and the leaves larger than 



