CHAP. III. TRANSPLANTING. 71 



merely a few yards. We are decidedly of opinion that on the last 

 circumstance the success of all experiments in gaining a superior 

 race of plants is more dependent than on any of the properties of 

 the soil, although these must be taken in account as auxiliaries. 

 Closely connected with the annual removal is the division of the 

 plants; if herbaceous, the destruction of the central and older 

 portions, which become feeble and advance towards decay, and the 

 transplantation only of the young exterior and healthy parts. For 

 some kinds this care may possibly be superfluous, for others it is 

 essential." * 



There are few things in which the malee will manifest his 

 indolence more than when employed in transplanting, If not 

 keenly watched, he will, to make easy work of it, begin digging 

 round the plant almost close to the stem, so that the ball of 

 earth he has to take up be as small as possible, cutting through 

 or tearing away all the large long roots that come in his way, 

 rather than extracting them carefully out. 



In lifting a plant great care and often much patience are 

 required, so that the roots sustain the least possible injury. It 

 will sometimes, however, unavoidably happen that the roots 

 become so much broken or disturbed in the operation that the 

 plant would suffer severely, if removed at once to the spot in- 

 tended for it, and immediately exposed to the sun and air. In 

 such case it will be found advantageous to put it into as small 

 a pot as will contain it, fill in the pot with soil, and well water 

 it ; then convey it to a darkened room, and keep it there during 

 the day, bringing it out in the evening to remain in the open 

 air and receive the benefit of the dew during the night. After 

 a few days it may be left out in some well-shaded spot during 

 the whole day, and in no great length of time, when its wounded 

 roots have become healed, it will bear any amount of exposure. 

 It may then be shifted from its pot, and planted in the place 

 where it is intended to remain. The worst it will have suffered 

 will be the temporary shedding of its leaves merely. 



The following method is recommended as one of remarkable 

 efficacy in reviving plants dried by having their roots too long 

 out of the ground. I have never tried it myself, and therefore 

 can say nothing as to its merits : 



. " In a tub holding about 20 gallons, fill three-fourths full with 

 * ' Magazine of Botany,' vol. ix. p. 86. 



