84 OPEN&quot; AIR GKAPE CULTURE. 



inches deep and about 3 feet in diameter, or as wide 

 as the distance to which the roots extend. 



TAKING UP THE PLANTS. When plants are pur 

 chased, this operation is generally left to the nursery 

 man who not unfrequently commits it to men who 

 care very little how it is done so that they get the 

 plants out of the ground. But when we reflect that 

 a small amount of care in taking up a plant will 

 often cause a difference of a year or more in its sub 

 sequent growth, it will be evident that the labor, time 

 and consequent interest on capital which will be ulti 

 mately saved by devoting a little attention to this 

 matter will more than pay for the few extra minutes 

 required. 



In taking up a vine, or any plant, it is well to 

 ^remember that the most efficient portion of the roots 

 is that which lies at the extreme ends those minute 

 fibres or spongioles which have been aptly termed 

 $he mouths of the plant. In old vines, where the 

 j-oots extend to a great distance, these fibres are gene- 

 Tally left in the soil, and the plant presents but a few 

 smooth, fibreless, cord-like roots from which spongi 

 oles must be emitted ere the plant can derive any 

 nourishment from them. 



But in young plants the roots have not yet extend 

 ed so far as to prevent their being easily taken up 



