480 Transactions op the 



to have attained for transplanting has been intimated in speaking of the 

 management of the beds. Some have described it by saying that the 

 plant at its "crown," or the point of junction of root and" stem, should 

 show that it has begun to make woody fiber. I should rather attempt 

 to describe it as I have already done, by saying that the stem at this 

 point should have exchanged the cellular, watery semi-translucent ap- 

 pearance of its structure for an opaque solid one. About the same time 

 the root will acquire a woody look. The plant will have four leaves, 

 and is always fit to transplant before the development of six leaves. 

 Where the plants come very thick (as they ought) in the bed, they will 

 stretch up tall and spindling, and, on the whole, may be preferred of that 

 sort as being better to handle in planting. The quantity of root at- 

 tached will vary with the previous management of the beds. If the 

 supply of water has been constant, the season warm, and the growth 

 rapid, there will be very little root. If it has been necessary to urge 

 the maturing of the plants by alternately withholding and supplying 

 water, the roots will be long and sometimes come away in bunches or 

 tassels. One sort is quite as good as another for planting, where this is 

 done with reasonable care. 



MANAGEMENT OF PLANTS. 



The plants are to be drawn as already described for weeding, by a 

 steady strain directed, if needful, first one way and then another. The 

 roots ought to come away without breaking, and will, if the beds have 

 been properly wetted in advance. The ground around the root ought 

 not to be broken or disturbed. If a young plant be lifted along with the 

 one meant to be drawn, set it back again. As each plant is drawn, clean 

 off any earth that may adhere to the roots, by a fillip with the finger, 

 and clean thoroughly. This will be tedious if the beds have been wetted 

 too recently before drawing, and it was partly in order that this part of 

 the operation may give least trouble, that we select a light, sandy land 

 for the beds. And it is needful to clean the roots for this reason: if a 

 bit of wet earth be left adhering to them, when it comes to be set it will 

 be compacted, its excess of moisture being squeezed out, and forms a clod 

 which effectually arrests circulation and kills the plant. 



Place in the bottom of the plant-box half a gunny or grain sack, folded 

 and well wetted, and lay the other half, also wet, over the top. Set the 

 box with one end resting on one of the backboards so that it inclines 

 away from the sun. As each plant is drawn with one hand it is placed 

 in the other (the earth fillipped off the root), and so held that the root 

 shall not be exposed to the sun. Each handful is placed in the box, 

 taking care not to pack too tight, and replacing the cover. The hand, 

 also, is not to be filled so full as to squeeze the plants. Should wind be 

 blowing, the roots will dry rapidly, and they must not be held too long 

 before placing in the box. As soon as each box is filled, moderately 

 water it (on top of the covering bag) and convey to a shady place, or set 

 the empty boxes on top of the filled ones. The roots must not be 

 washed (to clean the dirt off), nor must enough water be given after the 

 plants are in the box to wash them. To diminish the risk of this, cracks 

 are left in the bottoms of the boxes sufficient to insure the surplus water 

 draining off. The boxes should be watered (moderately) every twelve 

 hours, and after being taken to the field, as each fresh box is used, a 

 little water should be sprinkled over the cover before it is removed. 

 Thus tended, plants may be safely set out two or three, c/r even four 



