TRANSPLANTING. 81 



the new roots begin to be emitted, and eontirced dry 

 weather ensues, then nothing will save them but having 

 recourse to watering, which should always be avoided if 

 possible. In planting, each man is provided with a boy, who 

 carries the plants in a basket, and whose duty is to drop 

 the plant on the line at the proper distance before the 

 planter. In planting, a hole is made by the dibber about 

 the depth of the root ; the plant being inserted, the soil is 

 then pressed close to the root, the hole thus made by the 

 displacement of the soil is again filled up by one stroke of 

 the dibber. In dry weather we still further firm the plant, 

 by each planter returning on his row, and treading the soil 

 around plants firmly with the feet. I am thus particular 

 in describing a simple matter, knowing well, that millions 

 of plants are annually lost by inattention to this firming of 

 the soil. The same rule is applicable to transplanting of 

 all kinds, trees, shrubs, or vegetables. Instead of " pud- 

 dling " the roots in mud, we prefer to keep the plants 

 dripping wet during the whole time of planting, so that 

 each plant, as it is put in the soil, puddles itself by the 

 particles of soil adhering to the wet root. Besides, the 

 leaves of the plant, being wet, will for some time resist 

 the action of the dry air. 



