242 



the nucleus ol the root: antl y(!i the entire oideiiug of tlie 

 roots and fibres is supjwsed to be finished. But 1 have found 

 by long experience, that an anxiety for immediate consoli- 

 dation, which most planters possess, is not favourable to the 

 fibrous roots of woody plants, small or great. That equa- 

 bility of pressure of the soil, which gradual subsidence 

 alone can give, is not to be attained by any artificial means 

 yet known, and least of all, by treading and pounding, by 

 the feet of workmen. It is otie thing to fill in mould firmly 

 round the nucleus, and to compact it with the rammer, as 

 above mentioned, where there is free room to operate ; and 

 another, to tread down with the feet layer after layer of the 

 tenderest fibres, and finest capillary rootlets, as recommended 

 by Marshall and others ; a mode of treatment which cannot 

 fail, after the critical period of removal, to be extremely pre- 

 judicial to what must be considered as the true absorbents 

 of the plant. As to the final consolidation of the surface, it 

 shall be treated of in the sequel. 



After the covering of the roots, the only thing that remains 

 to be performed is, to fill in the rest of the earth into the pit, 

 so that at the stem it shall be from twelve to fourteen inches 

 deep. If it be wintertime, that is, between November and 

 February (in this climate including the latter itionth), a 

 slight treading over the whole, by the workmen, is suflficient 

 to bring about gradually, but eflfectually, the work of conso- 

 lidation for the time, and that gentle and equable pressure, 

 which excludes drought, and yet admits of the roots striking 

 freely. If it be spring, that is, between February and May, 

 Pontey's useful method of pouring on water is adopted,* 

 namely, to do it (as he says), with " a watering-pan with the 

 rose taken olT," or with common pails, from the height of 

 five or six feet, as soon as the covering of mould is half fin- 

 ished ; dashing it down, with as much force as possible, hi 



* Rural Improver, pp. 88, 8!>. 



