136 RUTA BAGA CULTURE. [PART I, 



84. The general, and almost universal fault, 

 is, that the planter, when he has ^nt the root 

 into the hole, draws the earth up against the 

 upper part of the root, or stem, and, if he presses 

 pretty well there, he thinks that the planting is 

 well done. But, it is the point of the root, 

 against which the earth ought to be pressed, for 

 .there thejibres are; and, if they do not touch the 

 earth closely, the plant will not thrive. The 

 reasons have been given in paragraphs 51 and 52, 

 in speaking of the sowing of seeds. It is the 

 same in all cases of transplanting or planting* 

 Trees, for instance, will be sure to grow, if you 

 sift the earth, or pulverize it very finely, and 

 place it carefully and closely about the roots. 

 When we plant a tree, we see all covered by 

 tumbling in the earth ; and, it appears whimsi 

 cal to suppose, that the earth does not touch all 

 the roots. But, the fact is, that unless great 

 pains be taken, there will be many cavities in 

 the hole where the tree is planted ; and, in 

 whatever places the earth does not closely 

 touch the root, the root will mould, become 

 cankered, and will lead to the producing of a 

 poor tree. 



85. When I began transplanting in fields in 

 England, I had infinite, difficulty in making my 

 planters attend to the directions, which I have 

 here given. " The point of the stick to the 

 point of the root!" was my constant cry. As 



