326 TRANSPLANTING AND PLANTING. 



pared. This mode of planting is employed wherever more plants are taken 

 out of the ground than can be immediately planted, and it is founded on 

 the necessity of avoiding the great injury which the fibres and spongioles 

 of plants sustain by exposure to the air. 



728. Trench-planting is the most common mode, next to planting 

 with the dibber. It is used in transplanting most kinds of trees in the 

 nursery, and most kinds of edgings of single lines of plants. The spade is 

 inserted perpendicularly along the line, and a trench is opened of the 

 required depth, perpendicular on one side and sloping on the other ; and 

 the plants are placed against the perpendicular side with one hand, while, 

 with a spade in the other hand, or by the foot, some soil is drawn over 

 their roots ; after which the trench is filled up by the spade, the surface 

 levelled, and the line lifted and placed at a suitable distance, for a second 

 trench. In general, this mode of planting is carried on simultaneously with 

 digging or trenching ; trenching being used for plants having very large roots, 

 such as rhubarb, sea-kale, horse-radish, &c. In planting box and other 

 edgings to walks, by shallow trenches, the ground along the line of the 

 intended edging is first dug to a uniform depth and width, and the soil is 

 well broken, so as to be of an equal degree of fineness ; it is then com- 

 pressed by treading or beating, so as to be rendered uniformly firm along 

 the intended line of plants. The line being now stretched, a notch or 

 trench is made along it, generally on the side next the walk, perpendi- 

 cular to the surface, and of the depth of the roots of the box or other plants. 

 The box is now laid in against the perpendicular side of the trench, using 

 both hands, while the roots are covered with soil by drawing it up against 

 them, with a spade or the foot, so as to keep the plants in their place. The 

 remaining quantity of soil necessary to support the plants, and to earth 

 them up as high on the walk side as on the border side, is then brought 

 forward with the spade, and the work is completed by firmly treading the 

 soil to the plants with the foot. 



729. Slit-planting is effected by inserting the trowel or the spade perpen- 

 dicularly, moving it backwards and forwards an inch or two, and then 

 withdrawing it. In the open slit thus left a plant is inserted, and the sides 

 brought together, when the slit is not deep, by treading with the foot; but, 

 when it is deep, by inserting the trowel or spade on one side, so as to press 

 one side of the slit against the other throughout its whole depth. Young 

 forest-trees are frequently planted in this manner on unprepared soil, and 

 sometimes seedlings with long taproots in gardens. 



730. Hole-planting. Two men, or a man and a boy, are required for this 

 operation. The ground being dug or trenched, and the width of the rows 

 and the distance between the plants in the rows fixed on, a hole is opened 

 by the man, and the soil thrown aside ; a plant is then placed in the hole 

 by the boy, and held there till its roots are covered by a spadeful of soil, 

 which is taken out, so as to form the second hole. The plant is held 

 upright, while the soil is being thrown in over the roots, and it is afterwards 

 fixed by pressure with the feet. A third hole is opened, and a second plant 

 inserted in the same manner till the work is completed. 



731. Planting in pits. A pit is dug somewhat larger than the estimated 

 swe of the roots which are to be placed in it ; and, if in garden or trenched 

 soil, it may be made immediately before planting ; but if in firm unculti- 

 vated soil, as is frequently the case in forest-planting, it should be made 



