Chap. II. RUTA BAGA CULTURE. 97 



food had been locked up, and lay in a dormant 

 state. There had been no renewed fermentations, 

 and no exhalations. 



82. Having now said what, I would fain hope, 

 will convince every reader of the folly of waiting 

 for a shower in order to transplant plants of any 



sort, I will now speak of the mere act of planting 

 more particularly than I have hitherto spoken. 



83. The hole is made sufficiently deep ; deeper 

 than the length of the root does really require ; 

 but, the root should not be bent at the point, if it 

 can be avoided. Then, while one hand holds the 

 plant, with its root in the hole, the other hand ap- 

 plies the setting-stick to the earth on one side of the 

 hole, the stick being held in such a way as to form 

 a sharp triangle with the plant. Then pushing 

 the stick down, so that its point goes a little deeper 

 than the point of the root, and giving it a little twist, 

 it presses the earth against the point, or bottom of 

 the root. And thus all is safe, and the plant is sure 

 to grow. 



84. The general, and almost universal fault, is, 

 that the planter, when he has put the root into the 

 hole, draws the earth up against the upper part of 

 the root, or stem, and, if he presses pretty well 

 there, he thinks that the planting is well done. 

 But, it is the point of the root, against which the 

 earth ought to be pressed, for there the fibres are ; 

 and, if they do not touch the earth closely, the plant 

 will not thrive. The reasons have been given in 

 Paragraphs 61 and 52, in speaking of the sowing of 

 seeds. It is the same in all cases of transplanting or 

 planting. Trees for instance, will be sure to grow, 

 if you si/i; the earth, or pulverize it very finely, 

 and place it carefully and closely about the roots. 

 When we plant a tree, we see all covered by tum- 

 bling in the earth ; and, it appears whimsical to 

 suppose, that the earth does not touch all the roots. 

 But, the fact is, that, unless great pains be taken, 



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