300 PLANTING. 



tissues become disorganised and, when a certain stage of disorga- 

 nisation has been reached, begin to undergo decomposition ; while 

 the root-hairs, if there are any, are killed outright by a few minutes 

 free exposure. As regards the woody portions, they suffer a 

 diminution of their peculiar absorptive and conducting powers in 

 respect of moisture, and, as this diminution progresses, a point is 

 ultimately reached at which the loss becomes permanent. Under 

 the most favourable circumstances the vitality of the plants is 

 diminished and their recovery rendered uncertain. Hence the 

 necessity of special care in packing and transporting the planting 

 material and in keeping it before it can be used. Cceteris 

 partbus, plants with naked roots will require most care, particularly 

 such as exceed the mean dimensions of the middle-size class or 

 possess few root-fibres. 



ARTICLE 2. 



PACKING AND TEANSPOET OF SEEDLINGS. 



Whatever the method of packing or carriage, or the distance of 

 transport, the plants should be packed with as little delay as 

 possible after being lifted up, and they should be freely watered 

 as soon as they have been packed up ; while during the transport 

 they should be protected against evaporation. Not only the roots 

 and stem, but also the crown, in order to check transpiration, should 

 be shaded from the sun. 



The longer the transport, the greater will be the chances of 

 injury and the more imperative will it be to so pack the plants as 

 to reduce to a minimum their liability to be damaged. Hence the 

 method of packing, and sometimes even of carriage, will be 

 different according to the distance of transport. 



1. Transport over short distances. 



The directions which follow are intended generally to apply to 

 distances not exceeding a day's journey by any method of convey- 

 ance except railways. 



SEEDLINGS TAKEN UP WITH A BALL OF EARTH. The main pre- 

 caution required is to prevent the ball of soil breaking away from 

 the roots. Hence they should be packed up as close together as 

 possible, and any small intervals left between the individual balls 

 of earth should be filled up with good light soil. If the plants are 

 to be carried out in baskets, the bottom and sides of the baskets 

 should be lined with such soil, so as to close all interstices. The 

 baskets used should be as rigid as possible, otherwise they will be 



