PLANTING. 73 



under circumstances admitting only of a limited amount 

 of attention being paid to each plant. 



The vigour, or growing power, of a plant is indicated 

 by a normal shape and a healthy appearance. The 

 development of each part must be in due proportion to 

 the rest ; the plant should be neither tall and thin, nor 

 too short and stout; nor should the stem be crooked, 

 especially in the case of coniferous plants ; the root 

 system should be ample, with a fully developed system 

 of rootlets ; the crown should have a healthy green 

 appearance, and possess numerous well-developed buds. 



These are the general characteristics of good healthy 

 plants. At the same time they are subject to some 

 modifications as regards species, age, and the locality 

 which it is proposed to plant up. More especially some 

 caution is necessary in transferring plants from a rich to 

 a poor soil ; from a cool northern aspect to a hot southern 

 one ; from a low to a high situation ; from a sheltered 

 to an open spot, etc. ; in other words, what is a good 

 plant for one locality, may be only an indifferent one 

 for a locality of a different character. 



A further modification may be introduced respecting 

 the cost of raising the plants and of planting them 

 out. Plants with naturally extensive root systems, either 

 cost much to plant out, or the roots must be crowded 

 together in an unnatural position; from this point of 

 view a compact root system may be considered as an 

 essential point in a good plant, though it may not be 

 altogether in proportion to the stem and crown. 



