SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME FOR TRANSPLANTING TREES. 



aids greatly in the formation of root fibres, and consequently assists very much in estab 

 lishing the plant in its new situation. Or, if scattered over the soil next the roots, before 

 it is finally watered after planting, it is well distributed to the places where it is most re- 

 quired. 



When a young tree has its roots thrust into such a hole as is made by a single cut of a 

 spade, or even by two cross cuts, the roots are crowded together, and crushed into a small 

 space; they are unfitted therefore to collect and absorb nourishment, at a time when the 

 plant stands peculiarly in need of it. Not only is the freshly-planted tree able to obtain 

 little food by means of its roots, in consequence of the mode in which it is planted, but 

 the supply of nourishment is at the same time also diminished inconsequence of the change 

 of soil. In all cases the soil of the nursery or seed plantations, having been repeatedly 

 dug over, and moi'c or less manured, is better suited to the growth of the young plants 

 than the soil into which they are transplanted can possibly be. When a plant is moved 

 from one soil to another its growth is always checked, and the first step which it makes 

 towards repairing the evil thus caused, is the formation of fresh roots; by bad planting 

 this is made as diflficult as possible to the plant. 



It is hardly fair to compare togetherthegrowthof trees with that of the ordinary vegeta- 

 bles which are cultivated in our kitchen gardens; of course the conditions necessary to 

 the growth of an annual, differ from those proper to the healthy development of a slow 

 growing tree, which requires a long series of years to arrive at maturity; but even in the 

 case of common garden crops, the same general effects to which we have just referred, 

 may be observed. In almost every case where it is desirable to increase the development 

 of roots, phosphoric acid is of the greatest value. When we wish to force young plants, 

 to push them forward as fast as possible, so that their roots may get some hold upon the 

 soil, the superphosphate of lime is one of the best manures we can employ. The mode in 

 which that substance brings forward a crop of turneps is an illustration of this, and the 

 remarkable way in which it assists the growth of the young plants, getting them rapidly 

 into the rough leaf, and producing a more marked influence on their growth then, than it 

 does at any subsequent period, appears to depend chiefly on the fact that it aids them in 

 the formation and development of roots. 



Superphosphate of lime is, therefore, a very valuable fertiliser in the hands of the plant- 

 er, but in using it he must always remember, that as his plants must necessarily absorb 

 the whole or the greater part of the soluble manure which he gives them, he must take 

 care not to give too much, lie must not suppose that if one handful will do good, there- 

 fore ten handfuls will do more: it is very easy to give too much, and plants, like animals, 

 may equally be injured by over feeding or by starvatiQn. 



