Book V. OPERATIONS WITH PLANTS. 455 



them by bruises. The only effectual way of attaining this end is after carefully spread- 

 ing the fibres, and distributing them as equally as possible among the mould, to give 

 abundant waterings, holding the vessel from which the water is poured as high as pos- 

 sible, so as to consolidate the earth by that means, rather than by compression with the 

 foot. On an extensive scale, however, this cannot be done, and in planting seedlings or 

 cuttings it is not required, as these have few and short fibres, and may be firmed suffici- 

 ently by the planting instrument, or the foot. It should never be forgotten that, in all 

 planting, it is an essential point to have the earth firmly compressed to tlie roots, and espe- 

 cially to the lower parts or extremities. Any one may be convinced of this, by planting 

 one cabbage loosely, and another compressing the root well with the dibber at the lower 

 part : or, instead of a cabbage, try a cutting, say of gooseberry, elder, or vine : both no 

 doubt will grow, but the growth of the plant or cutting compressed at the lower extre- 

 mity, will be incomparably more vigorous than that of the other. 



2911. Watering becomes requisite for various purposes; as aliment to plants in a 

 growing state ; as support to newly transplanted plants ; for keeping under insects ; and 

 keeping clean the leaves of vegetables. One general rule must be ever kept in mind 

 during the employment of water ; that is, never to water the top or leaves of a plant 

 when the sun shines. A moment's reflection .will convince any one that this rule is 

 agreeable to the laws of nature, for during rain the sun's rays are intercepted by a 

 panoply of fog or clouds. All artificial watering, therefore, should be carried on in the 

 evening, or early in the morning, unless it be confined to watering the roots, in which case, 

 transplanted plants, and others in a growing state, may be watered at any time ; and 

 if they are shaded from the sun, they may also be watered over their tops. 



2912. Sowing is the operation of dispersing seeds over the surface of the soil, with a 

 view to their future vegetation and growth. Where seeds are deposited singly, they are 

 said to be planted, as in the case of dibbling wheat or beans ; where they are dropped in 

 numbers together, they are said to be rown. When dropped in numbers together in a 

 line, they are said to be drilled or sowed; and when scattered over the general surface 

 by the hand, they are said to be sown broadcast. 



2913. In broadcast sowing, the operator being furnished with a basket {fig. 264.), or 

 sheetful of seed hanging on his left side, takes out a handful with his right hand, and 

 disperses it by a horizontal and rather rising movement of the arm to the extent of a 

 semicircle, gradually opening his hand at the same time. The most usual practice 

 when land is laid up in ridges of equal breadth, and not too wide, as five or six yards, 

 is that of dispersing the seed regularly over each land or ridge, in opce walking round ; 

 the seedsman, by difierent casts of the hand, sowing one half in going, and the other in 

 returning. In doing this, it is the custom of some seedsmen to fill the hand from the 

 basket or bag, which they carry along with them, as they make one step forward, and 

 disperse the seed in the time of performing the next ; while others scatter the seed, or 

 make their casts, as they are termed by farmers, in advancing each step. It is evident, 

 therefore, that in accomplishing this business with regularity and exactness, there is con- 

 siderable difficulty, the proper knowledge and habit of which can only be acquired 

 by experience. It is consequently of importance for the cultivator to perform the opera- 

 tion himself, or to be careful in selecting such persons as are conversant with the busi- 

 ness, as he may otherwise incur much unnecessary expense in the waste of seed, and run 

 considerable risk in respect of his crops. 



2914. Sawing. The saw is a conjoined series of uniform wedges, which, when drawn 

 or thrust in succession across a branch or trunk, gradually wears it through. In perform- 

 ing the operation, the regularity of the pressure and motion are chiefly to be attended 

 to. In green or live shoots, the double-toothed saw produces less friction on the sides 

 of the plate, by opening a large channel for its motion. Where parts are detached from 

 living trees, the living section ought generally to be smoothed over with a knife, chisel, 

 or file ; and a previous precaution in large trees, is to cut a notch in the lower part of 

 the branch immediately under and in the line of the section, in order to prevent any 

 accident to the bark, when the amputated part falls off. Sawing is a coarser mode of 

 cutting, mowing, or shaving ; or a finer mode of raking, in which the teeth follow all in 

 one line. 



291 5. Cutting is performed by means of a very sharp wedge, and either by drawing 

 this through obliquely or across the body to be cut, as in using the knife ; or by press- 

 ing or striking the axe or hedge-bill obliquely into the body, first, on one side of an 

 imaginary line of section, and then on the other, so as to work out a trench across the 

 branch or trunk, and so effect its separation. The axe, in gardening, is chiefly used in 

 felling trees, and for separating their trunks, branches, and roots into parts. The knife 

 is extensively used for small trees, and the hedge-bill and chisel for those of larger size. 

 In amputating with the knife, one operation or draw-cut ought generally to be suf- 

 ficient to separate the parts; and this ought to be made with the knife sufficiently sharp, 

 and the motion so quick as to produce a clean, smooth section, with the bark uninjured. 



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