PROPAGATION BY SEEDS. 81 



This happens especially where the holes in which the off-shoots 

 were planted have been dug very deep. The hole is perhaps 

 the best depth for planting purposes when on the plant being 

 placed with its lower end resting on the bottom of the hole, the 

 crown of the plant is just at its proper height. As the off-shoots 

 are not all of one size, I find that it is most convenient to have 

 all the holes dug just the correct depth for the smaller plants 

 and then dig out a little more earth where necessary when planting 

 the larger plants. This method of digging holes of course applies 

 only to good loamy well aerated soils. Where there are bands of im- 

 pervious clays or hard pans, etc., in the soil, the hole should be dug 

 to a depth of 3 feet or more and left for some weeks or months : 

 then some days at least before planting is begun the earth should 

 be replaced and thoroughly packed to the height required in 

 planting the off-shoot, so as to prevent the plant sinking later. 



42. If in spite cf every thing the plant sinks too low, 



the irrigating water may be prevented from 

 ^nto WJ the entering the crown of the plant by filling up the 

 when e the basin round the plant with earth and making 

 sunk after instead a circular trench round the off-shoot 



and about 12 inches away from it (see illustration 

 No. 27, page 806). The soil around the off-shoot receives water 

 from this trench just as it did from the basin. Care should be 

 taken that earth and dirt does not collect in the crown of the 

 tree, as that is also bad for the plant. Another method of 

 preventing irrigating water entering the crowns of the trees when 

 they have sunk after being planted, is to lower the levels of the 

 water channels and basins around the trees, and then only partly 

 fill the channels with water when irrigating. The previous 

 method is usually the better one, however. Where the crowns 

 have not sunk too low, I prefer the plain basins without the rings 

 (see illustration No. 26, page 80a). 



43. If the soil is of a stiff nature, a mulch of some sort 

 TO prevent crack- should be spread on the surface of the soil in 



ing of the soil round 



th plants and ex- the basins around the plants as soon as possible 



cessive evaporation , . , , - , 



of water. aiter planting. The mulch may be composed 



M, DP 6 



