fie inc. es 
the climate is moist, and the soil 
good, and also moist, any tree may 
be transplanted without pruning the 
branches ; because the fibres it will 
produce in such a soil and climate 
will be sufficient to supply the 
moisture transpired by the leaves. 
But where the climate is dry and 
the soil also dry, no large tralia 
be safely transplanted with its 
branches; because the transpira- 
tion by the leaves will be much 
greater than the moisture which 
can possibly be absorbed by the 
roots. Hence in the dry climate 
of the Continent, all trees with 
stems above an inch or two in di- 
ameter have their branches entirely 
cut off, always excepting the Beech 
and Hornbeam, the Yew, and all 
the Pine, and Fir, and Cypress tribes. 
Even in this cvuntry, in Evelyn’s 
time, this was the practice ; and the 
late Sir Joseph Banks, when he 
planted groups of trees with stems 
five inches or six inches in diameter 
on a portion of Hounslow Heath, 
which was allotted to his residence 
there, planted only stumps ten feet 
or twelve feet high, which stumps 
are now finely-headed trees, con- 
spicuous from the road in passing 
Spring Grove. Much has of late 
heen written on the subject of trans- 
planting large trees, by Sir Henry 
Steuart and others; and the prac- 
tice has been recommended of leav- 
ing on the whole of the head. Ex- 
perience, however, has proved that 
this can only be done with advan- 
tage under certain circumstances. 
Planting 1n pots, when the plants 
are of the very smallest size, may 
be effected by a small dibber, as in 
planting in the common soil; but 
it is more frequently done on the 
principle of planting in pits ; that is, 
the pot being properly drained by a 
few potsherds being placed over the 
hele in the bottom of the pot, and 
an inch or two of soil placed over 
them according to the size of the 
28 
9) PLANTING. 
pot, the young seedling or newly- 
struck cutting is held with one 
hand, and soil sprinkled over the 
roots, by a trowel, with the ether 
When the pot is filled, the soil is 
consolidated by liftuig the pot, with 
both hands, a few inches high, and 
setting down once or twice witha 
sight jar; aiterwards, supplying 
water so as to moisten the whcle 
of the soil in the pot. The thumb, 
or a potting-stick, should previously 
be passed round the inner edge of 
the pot, so as to firm the sou reund 
the rim; otherwise the water is 
liable to run down round the edge 
ef the pot, without moistening the 
soil in the middle. Immediately 
after planting, the pot should be set 
in a position where it can be shaded 
during sunshine ; but on no account 
should tender plants be shaded dur- 
ing cloudy weather, or covered with 
an opake covering during night, 
unless for the purpose of protecting 
them from cold. Of course the af- 
ter-treatment of every plant in a 
pot must depend on its nature ; all 
that it is necessary at present to treat 
of is the manner of planting. 
Transplanting plants which have 
already been grown in pots is either 
effected by removing the ball 
mass of earth containing the roots 
entire, or by gently breaking the 
ball in pieces, and stretching the 
roots out on every side. When the 
ball is not broken, the operation is 
called shifting. Plants are often 
reared in pots on account of their 
tender nature when young, or for 
the convenience of transporting 
them to a distance, though they are 
intended ultimately to be planted 
in the open ground. In almost all 
cases of this kind, the ball should 
be broken, and the pit having been 
prepared with the greatest care, 
as in common planting, the fibrous 
roots should be stretched out in it 
as far as they will go on every side. 
Hence, a piant which has been 
