METHODS AND PRACTICE 179 



out. A plan adopted by Mr. Havelock of Brocklesby, 

 Mr. M'Gregor at Abbeyleix, and others, of ploughing 

 out the plants is an excellent one for avoiding un- 

 necessary danger in this respect, provided reasonable 

 care is taken to prevent injury to the tops. The soil 

 containing the roots is turned over in a body, and a 

 little loosening with a spade or fork separates the roots 

 without violence being applied. With deep-rooting 

 plants, like oak or Spanish chestnut, it might not be 

 so suitable, but with the majority of conifers it is both 

 cheaper and better than the brutal method described 

 above. 



Packing for transit could be improved upon by 

 puddling the roots in clay as soon as they are lifted. 

 This operation prevents the drying of the roots during 

 the short exposures to the sun or wind which are inevit- 

 able at times. The clay film round the roots also 

 absorbs moisture again readily when the latter are again 

 planted or laid in, and in most cases prevents injurious 

 evaporation of moisture, due to frosty weather in winter 

 and spring. 



In sending plants long distances by train, and when 

 they can be packed and the journey completed in the 

 same truck, it is probably better to use no packing 

 beyond moss or straw in the bottom, and placing the 

 bundles closely together with the roots downwards, 

 or facing each other. Where more than one layer of 

 plants is put in, straw or moss should be placed between 

 them, and the second layer put in as before. This 

 method prevents such a free circulation of air through 

 the roots as when the bundles are throAvn in indis- 

 criminately, or as is the case when they are tied up in 

 mats or bags through which the wind freely passes. 

 Where trans-shipping is inevitable it is, of course, im- 

 possible to avoid the latter method. 



