is ready to transplant, in which case it is well to remove all but two sets of leaves. 

 Many ga-owers do not pnine the roots at all, but growth starts quicker if they 

 are cut back from one-fourth to one-third of the total length. A safe rule to 

 follow when transplanting any phmt is to leave as mnch root and as little top as 

 can be done consistently. 



Two men or a man and a boy are employed in each gang to set the plants 

 and they may use either a spade, trowel or dibble. The spade seems to be the 

 most popular tool, though the dibble is used a great deal. The man with the 

 spade wailks backward following the marks and makes a three cornered hole by 

 pushing the spade into the ground with the left foot, about three or four inches, 

 shoving it slightly from him and then with his foot still holding one side of the 

 spade pulling the top toward him. This makes a three cornered hole into which 





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M-. 



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The Wide Matted Row System Before Picking Time. 



the boy places the plant, holding it firmly until the spade is removed. The foot 

 is then used to pack the earth firmly around the plant. The boy is expected to 

 place the plant at the proper depth and hold it in place until the soil is firmed. 

 This method is much superior to working the spade backward and forward, as 

 it does not pack the sides of the hole or leave an open space below the plant. 

 Also with a little practice it is much quicker. Great care must be taken not to 

 injure or cover the crown of the plant when tramping. Also care must be taken 

 not to plant too deep or too shallow. The crown should be even with the surface 

 of the ground. 



The dibble is used in a similar way. It is a wedge shaped piece of wood 

 about six inches long, which is pressed into the earth by the foot. It should be 

 shod with a thin piece of iron or steel. 



A surer way of securing a stand, especially if the soil is dry and the weather 

 is unfavorable, is to use a trowel as mentioned above. The roots are then spread 



