324 DIRECT SOWING AND PLANTING COMPARED. 



perly chosen, we must examine the circumstances attending the 

 first appearance and early growth of that species. These are 



(i) form of root-system of the seedlings. If the young plant 

 develops a strong tap-root with little or no side-roots of any size, 

 its transplanting, unless effected, as in the case of teak, before the 

 tap-root has had time to attain an excessive length, or unless each 

 plant has, like sissu under the Wood system, been raised in a tube 

 from which the long taproot can be taken out entire, cannot but 

 be accompanied with the loss of a large proportion of the most 

 active portion of its root-apparatus. Some species suffer less than, 

 others from so notable a diminution of their absorbing organs, 

 while some are never able to recover from it- As regards the last 

 class and those species which recover with difficulty, we must either 

 sow or use germ plants, and the final choice between these two 

 methods will be determined by the other characters of the species. 

 In the case of those species, the young plants of which do not 

 min .1 a severe curtailment of the taproot, or which naturally develop 

 a bushy mass of roots, the question between planting or sowing 

 must be decided on other grounds. 



(ii) Facility of germination and character of the young plants. 

 If the seeds of any species germinate freely and the young 

 plant is resisting enough for the prevailing conditions, sowing, as it 

 is more economical, may often be preferable to planting. 



Otherwise we must plant. The more delicate the young seed- 

 ling is, the older must be the transplants used. In the case of 

 hardy species the choice between the two methods of regeneration 

 will depend principally on the rapidity of growth of the young 

 plant. If growth is very slow, we must plant. 



Species which develop early a strong crown will generally be 

 adapted for direct sowing, as the young plants, having a root-appa- 

 ratus strong in proportion, will be able to maintain themselves 

 against most weeds and against unfavourable weather influences. 



2. When a mixed crop is to be raised. 



The preceding considerations hold good here also, and in addition 

 full weight must be given to the influence the various species 

 may exercise on each other in virtue of their different capacities for 

 enduring shade, their different rates of growth, their different root- 

 systems and the suitability of the local conditions for them severally. 

 To put a weaker species on the same or a better footing than a 

 stronger one, it may be found a good plan to plant the one and sow 

 the other at one and the same time. 



