6 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 



It is a good rule in planting operations of all kinds to 

 expose the roots to atmospheric influences as little as 

 possible, therefore the ground should in all cases be 

 ready for the reception of shrubs or trees immediately they 

 arrive. When they are unpacked dip the roots if dry 

 in a vessel of water, place them together in a position 

 convenient to the bed or border in which they are to be 

 planted, and lay a mat or a piece of canvas over the 

 roots. In planting make the holes large enough to 

 admit of the roots being spread out horizontally and 

 deep enough for the stem to be about an inch or so 

 lower in the soil than it was previously as indicated 

 by the soil mark. Place rather fine soil immediately 

 over the roots and then proceed to fill in the hole 

 and tread the soil firmly as this is being done, and 

 if the soil is close and retentive, a barrowful of old 

 soil from the potting bench and frame ground should 

 be at hand for placing immediately over the roots. 

 All the roots that have been injured in lifting or 

 transit should be cut back to an inch or so above 

 the wound, a sharp knife being used as a clean cut 

 is of primary importance. Whether any pruning of 

 the branches should be done at the time of prun- 

 ing will depend upon the kinds and the size of the 

 examples. Generally speaking a shortening of the 

 branches of the deciduous kinds will be desirable, and 

 in the case of large specimens rather severe pruning 

 will be beneficial for the purpose of reducing the leaf 

 area and consequently the evaporative surface in the 

 succeeding spring and summer. There are exceptions 

 to all rules, and large specimens that are only moved 

 from one part of the garden to the other, or are lifted 

 in the nursery with exceptionally good roots at the best 

 time for planting operations and packed and planted 

 carefully will so quickly recover as to be able to take 

 up the amount of moisture necessary to produce a satis- 



