PLANTING. 117 



remain; hence the best plan is to cut off the weakest 

 plants close to the ground with scissors. 



III. METHODS OF PLANTING. 



The most important point in planting is to reduce the 

 interruption of growth to a minimum, so that the plants 

 may quickly establish themselves in their new home. 

 How this object can be realized depends on the descrip- 

 tion of the plants, their size, and the conditions of soil 

 and climate. To meet th^ different cases, various 

 methods of planting have been elaborated, of which only 

 the most important will be shortly indicated. 



"Whatever the methods may be, the following rules 

 for planting are of general application : 



(1.) The plant should be placed in the ground to 

 the same depth as that at which it stood 

 in the nursery (allowing for a possible 

 settlement of the soil). 



(2.) The root-system should receive a natural posi- 

 tion and not be huddled together. 



These two rules can only be disregarded under 

 specially favourable conditions. 



The actual level at which the plants are placed, 

 depends on the climate and the nature of the soil. In 

 the majority of cases the plants are placed flush with the 

 ordinary surface of the ground ; under a dry and hot 

 climate they are sometimes placed in pits or trenches 

 previously dug and arranged at a level below the ordi- 

 nary surface ; in wet or swampy soil plants are frequently 

 placed on mounds or ridges. In either of these cases 



