in a packing shed, or other place, where the work can be done in the 

 shade and the danger of the wilting of the plants lessened. Even 

 though one is merely digging a few plants for home use, the removal 

 of the leaves and runners and the straightening out of the roots 

 should not be neglected. Sometimes the setting of the plants is 

 necessarily delayed until late in the season, when, if the air happens 

 to be dry, there will be great danger of the wilting and perhaps the 

 killing of the plants from the heat and dryness of the soil and air. 

 Under these conditions it will be advisable to cut off the leaves except 

 one or two of the smaller ones, as by thus reducing their surface the 

 evaporation will be lessened. When plants have been purchased and 

 have become dry or heated in the bundles, it will be advisable to 

 untie the bundles and either place them in water up to the crowns in 

 some cool shady place, or to heel them in, so that the soil will be in 

 contact with roots of each plant, in moist soil where they can be 

 shaded and occasionally sprinkled. In a few days the plants that 

 have not been killed will recover, and it will be possible to throw 

 out those that have been spoiled. In this way the labor of planting 

 will be lessened and there will be no vacant places in the rows from 

 the use of injured plants. 



While it will not be best to pursue this course when large areas 

 are to be set, any one having only a small plantation will find it 

 advisable to put out the plants when the condition of the soil and 

 atmosphere favor their growth. If they can be set just before a 

 shower, or as soon as the ground is in suitable condition afterwards, 

 their growth will generally be assured. Some go so far as to recom- 

 mend the digging of the plants in the early morning, keeping them 

 in a cool, moist cellar until late in the afternoon and then putting 

 them out. Where this can be done there is undoubtedly a benefit 

 from it, as the plants will contain much more moisture in the morn- 

 ing than when they have been exposed to the heat of the sun during 

 the day, and by planting them in the early evening they will be less 

 likely to wilt the following day than when the planting is done in 

 the morning. 



When the plants are being set, equal care should be taken that 

 the roots are not exposed. If the soil has been so worked that a dust 

 mulch has been provided, the soil that will be in contact 

 with the roots will ordinarily have a sufficient amount of 

 moisture, and watering will not be necessary, but, should the 

 soil be dry, a pint or so of water should be given each 

 plant before the planting has been completed; this will 

 permit of the drawing of dry soil about it after the water has soaked 

 in, and the baking of the soil about the plant, which otherwise might 

 happen, will be prevented. In setting the plants a spade, dibble or 

 trowel may be used, and if the work is properly done there will be 

 little difference in the result secured. When the dibble or spade is 

 used, a cut is made in the ground to the depth of 6 or 8 inches, and 

 the soil is pressed back in either direction by a side movement of the 

 handle ; in the opening thus formed the roots are placed, care being 

 taken that they are not cramped and that they are so spread out that 



