1 68 ROCK GARDENS 



plant in it anyhow, with its roots all bunched up, 

 and covering it with soil, they press the earth 

 down closely round the neck of the plant. 

 If the plant is too high out of the ground, 

 they try to rectify the error by pressing down 

 still harder, and with what result ? The tender 

 and delicate roots get broken and bruised, and, 

 even if they survive such treatment, take a long 

 time to establish themselves and become recon- 

 ciled to " pastures new." The proper way 

 is, to make the hole rather larger and deeper 

 than the plant will require, then to draw 

 the soil up into the shape of a mound in 

 the centre ; then, very gently disentangling 

 the tender roots, place the plant on the top of 

 the mound, spreading its roots out all round 

 and over its sides, and cover them with soil ; 

 press it gently but firmly down on the outside, 

 but not close to the neck of the plant, or at 

 least only as much as is required to keep it 

 firm and unaffected by the wind. If the 

 specimen you wish to plant is growing in a 

 pot, remove it from it by placing the left 

 hand over the surface of the pot, if necessary 

 allowing the stem of the plant to come up 



