298 AMERICAN GRAPE CULTURE. 



firmly, but without packing it ; this may be 

 done with the feet ; then make a nice bed of fine 

 soil for the roots to rest on. The plant having 

 been put in its place, and the roots spread out, 

 it must be held there until two or three inches 

 of soil are worked in among the roots firmly ; 

 but if, in the act of removing the hand, the 

 plant shows any signs of springing up, the hold 

 must be retained, and more soil worked in. It 

 takes but an instant to ascertain whether the 

 plant will retain its place. "When made secure, 

 the hole may be filled up rapidly ; but as the 

 soil is thrown in, it should be made just firm, 

 and no more. The technical term for this is 

 " firming." When planted in this way, about 

 an inch may be allowed for settling; in the 

 common way, three or four inches must gen- 

 erally be allowed; that is to say, where the 

 roots are wanted about four inches from the 

 surface, they must be placed three or four inches 

 deeper than this. For example : when we say, 

 in planting, that the roots must be covered 

 about four inches, they must be placed three or 

 four inches deeper than this to allow for set- 

 tling, if the common method of planting is pur- 

 sued ; but if the bottom of the trench or hole is 

 " firmed," as well as the soil as it is put in, not 



