Planting. ) 19 



to see that the roots are laid straight out, and in 

 their natural position, and also that the tap-root 

 is not doubled up or bent at the end. 



The best method is as follows : a boy or girl 

 having laid down at the pit the plant intended for 

 it, a man provided with a mammotie follows. He 

 strikes the blade of this three or four times deeply 

 into the pit, breaking and chopping up the mould. 

 A stroke is then given as deep as the mammotie 

 will go into the centre of the pit, the handle is then 

 drawn back, the blade remaining buried in the 

 earth ; by this means a space is created behind the 

 blade, and into this the labourer introduces the 

 plant with his disengaged hand ; having seen that 

 the tap-root goes down straight to the bottom of 

 the opening, he then raises the mammotie gently, 

 allowing the mould to fall naturally round and 

 among the roots, and finally presses in the earth 

 with his other hand. In order to make sure that 

 the tap-root and feeders are not bundled up, the 

 plant should be drawn slightly upwards, and the 

 earth may now be firmly trodden down, until 

 the surface round the .plant is quite smooth and 

 flat. 



I again quote Mr. Loudon in connexion with this 

 subject : " On very steep slopes which have been 

 pitted, the following rules ought to be observed in 

 planting : to place the plant in the angle formed by 



