TEANSPLANTING 69 



them. The spade is levered back and the plant, if then 

 loose in the soil, lifted out. 



K it is not loose, a spadeful of earth must be taken out 

 and another application of the spade made, deeper. 



Plants should never be pullsd out, as the roots mil be 

 broken and the root-hairs torn off. 



If the plants are very deeply rooted, a trench should 

 be dug along the line, so that the spade may be placed 

 right under the roots and the plants levered up clear of 

 the soil. It is better always to have a man at either 

 side. 



The plants, when lifted, should be root pruned, as 

 explained above, counted, and tied up in convenient- 

 sized bundles of 25, 50, or 100, according to their size. 

 The material for tying the bundles should be thick and 

 strong, yet soft. 



Faggoting band answers very well, and does not injure 

 the plants so much as the coarser makes, such as binder 

 twine, which is often used. The cords should be looped 

 at one end, through which the other end is passed and 

 pulled tight. They may be used over and over again. 

 The foot should never be used to compress the bundles, 

 but, if necessary, a sUght pressure from the knee may be 

 applied. The plants should be " sheued " or heeled in 

 until they are carted to the planting area, when they 

 should again be heeled in until required, to protect them 

 from air, frost, and sun. 



To do this a trench is opened, and the bundles placed 

 in far enough apart to prevent heating if they have to be 

 left in the trench for some time, owing to an unexpected 



