TRANSPLANTING. 83 



the particles of soil is not only interrupted, but some of 

 the most important roots themselves are broken, and the 

 plant is deprived of the absorbent points of the small 

 rootlets. The evaporation from the leaves still con- 

 tinues, though moisture can no longer be absorbed by the 

 roots. The important operation of transplanting is prop- 

 erly performed, when the equilibrium between these 

 functions of the roots and the leaves is soonest reestab- 

 tablished. If plants are transplanted to a wet, and par- 

 ticularly heavy soil, the part pressed to the roots will 

 bake and contract, leaving cracks and open spaces near 

 the roots. The earth, into which plants are to be 

 shifted, should be freshly dug, as this seems to encour- 

 age an early emission of young rootlets ; and it should 

 be as fine as possible, so that every part of the roots may 

 come in contact with soil and moisture. 



By the removal of leaves, evaporation is not destroyed, 

 but only diminished; for it also takes place through 

 young bark. In our hot climates, a portion of the 

 leaves of all vegetables, in proportion to the injury sus- 

 tained by the roots, should be removed at the time of 

 transplanting To what extent this must be done, will 

 be given for each kind hereafter. 



A moist state of the atmosphere prevents perspiration, 

 or evaporation from the leaves, and such a condition is 

 most favorable for transplanting. Still, with the excep- 

 tion of some very delicate plants not able to survive a dry 

 atmosphere, such as cucumbers, etc. , it is not necessary 

 to await a rain before doing the work. If the earth has 

 been freshly stirred, and is moist enough to allow plant- 

 ing holes to be made by the dibble, without caving in, 

 and the soil is not very sandy, new roots will soon com- 

 mence to grow, and the warm soil will push them rapidly 

 forwards. 



The truck-farmer, planting upon an extensive scale, 

 has often to depend not only upon mere unskilled, but 



