98 AMERICAN GARDENER. 



and the plants will stand in a stunted state, till 

 the ground be moved about them in dry weather. 

 If I could have my wish in the planting of a piece 

 of Cabbages, Ruta *Baga, Lettuces, or, almost any 

 thing, I would find the ground perfectly dry at 

 top ; I would have it dug deeply ; plant immedi- 

 ately ; and have no rain for three or four days. 

 I would prefer no rain for a month to rain at the 

 time of planting. 



172. This is a matter of primary importance. 

 How many crops are lost by the waiting for a 

 shower! And, when the shower comes, the ground 

 is either not dug, or it has been dug for some 

 time, and the benefit of the fermentation is whol- 

 ly lost. 



173. However, there are some very tender 

 plants ; plants so soft and juicy as to be absolute4y 

 burnt up and totally destroyed, stems and all, in 

 a hot sun, in a few hours. Cucumbers and Melons^ 

 for instance, and some plants of flowers. These, 

 which lie in a small compass, must be shaded at 

 least, if not watered, upon their removal ; a more 

 particular notice of which will be taken as we 

 proceed in the Lists of the Plants. 



174. In the act of transplanting the main things 

 are to take care not to bury the heart of the plant; 

 and to take care that the earth be well pressed 

 about the point of the root of the plant. To press 

 the earth very closely about the stem of the plant 

 is of little use, if you leave the point of the root 

 loose. I beg that this may be borne in mind ; for 

 the growth, and even the life, of the plant depend 

 on great care as to this particular. See Ca&bage, 

 Paragraph 200, for a minute description of the 

 act of planting. 



