Practical Directions 275 



kept back until about the earliest showers in April, other- 

 wise the harsh and drying winds of March will severely 

 endanger them. 



Calm, dull, moist weather is almost of more consequence 

 in planting than the time of year. If the sun be shining 

 brightly, or there is any wind stirring, or the ground or the 

 atmosphere be very dry, no kind of planting should be pro- 

 ceeded with. A plant out of the ground, with its roots 

 exposed to drying influences, is in as unnatural and perilous 

 a position as a fish out of water. Both may survive; but 

 they have a great struggle to get over it and their future 

 health is for some time enfeebled. No weather is better for 

 planting than the damp and foggy period so peculiar to 

 November in England. 



Not only should planting be done on a cloudy and 

 moist day, but it must be done rapidly, so as to keep the 

 plants out of the ground as short a time as possible, and the 

 roots should be preserved and spread out with the utmost 

 care. A plant is mainly dependent on its roots for existence 

 and support, and if these are much mutilated in taking 

 it from the ground, or crushed, crippled, and huddled up 

 together at the time of its replanting, its chances of life and 

 vigor will be proportionately weakened. All the roots have 

 their share of branches and foliage to supply; and when the 

 former are much reduced in taking them up, or rendered 

 inoperative by careless planting, the balance between the 

 two is lost and great weakness or death results. The root 

 fibers, therefore, should be strictly preserved as far as pos- 

 sible and laid out in their natural position when replanted, 

 covering the whole with light and fine soil. 



In transplanting shrubs or trees of any unusual size, par- 

 ticularly evergreens, or even in moving smaller plants of the 

 latter from one part of a place to another or from a position 



