Il6 CARE OF PLANTS. 



partly for other reasons, which it is not necessary 

 to discuss in detail here. We find in it very much 

 the condition of a loaded car on a steep grade. It 

 is always ready to go down hill the moment we 

 take off the brake or remove the block from the 

 rail. The further it goes the more difficult it is to 

 stop, and if we do not put forth some effort there 

 will be a general smash-up sooner or later. On 

 the other hand, by dint of much labor we can 

 slowly push up grade, but we are always con- 

 fronted with the fact that the moment we lose 

 our watchfulness the down-hill motion commences, 

 and away goes everything we have gained. 



The author's work is done when he points out 

 the facts and principles involved, and it remains 

 for the reader to do the rest. 



PLANTING. 



We have pointed out in the previous chapter 

 how to prepare the soil and have shown in the 

 first part of this chapter how the plants are to be 

 cared for until the time for planting. As already 

 stated, we prefer to get our plants out permanent- 

 ly between the first of May and the first of June in 

 latitudes south of New York, but north of this 

 planting may be delayed fifteen or twenty days. 

 Having the soil stacked and ready near the houses 

 the first operation is to throw out the old plants 

 and remove six inches of the soil from the beds. 

 The old plants are merely lifted with a spade, the 

 earth is shaken off, and then they are thrown out- 



