Periodical Literature. 483 



should be multiplied by between 3 and 4, for American con- 

 ditions, say from $1.00 to $3.50, average $2.50). 



In most cases man labor is not required, except on stony and 

 rooty soil, and the boring of the plant holes if the tool is properly 

 used not hard work. 



The manipulation of the three tools which complete the outfit, 

 namely the borer, the plant holder and the presser (to be had 

 from Bach and Mahlow, Berlin, Sophienstr. 32, for $5 to $6 ac- 

 cording to size, diameters 8 to 15 cm, 10 cm being the most 

 usually applicable), is given in minute detail. 



In boring the holes the smallest amount of force is to be used; 

 how many turns are to be made and how often the borer is to be 

 emptied depends on soil conditions and length of root; the hole 

 should be made as deep but not deeper than the roots. If boring 

 in loose sand which has a tendency to flow out, the boring must 

 be made into the more solid ground, which will cork the bottom. 

 The plant holder can be widened for stouter plants ad libitum. 

 Its manipulation is the finesse of the operation; it permits the 

 placing of the plant in the middle of the hole at the appropriate 

 depth, while the planting is done by hand comminuting the soil 

 with the fingers. After a third of the hole is filled the presser 

 is used by carefully firming without pounding, close to the wall 

 of the hole, so that the soil in the center remains somewhat loose ; 

 a second pressing is done after two-thirds of the hole is filled, and 

 after the final filling the soil is firmed with the hands, and the 

 holder is carefully withdrawn. Precision in every part of the 

 manipulation is needful also keeping the borer sharp. The little 

 troubles that first occur with green hands are explained. 



It is important that the planting proceed as fast as the boring 

 i. e. it is undesirable to let the boring get much ahead. How 

 many planters one borer can keep busy depends upon the soil con- 

 ditions. In easy conditions four planters, in difficult one to two 

 can be kept going by one planter (one man and two women can 

 plant 180 plants per hour). 



The applicability of this tool is very general, although not 

 unlimited ; heavy loam and very stony soil are excluded, because 

 of the expense. On sandy soils, even when rooty, it is most use- 

 ful, with or without previous soil preparation (furrows or plats) 

 to remove the surface cover. It is difficult to judge when such 

 preparation is necessary and how much. The writer considers 



