404 SCIENCE OF GARDENING. Part II. 



The following is the mode of performance : The ground must be previously digged or 

 trenched, raked, and formed into beds three or four feet wide, with alleys between bed 

 and bed ; then with a rake or spade, trim the earth evenly from off the top of the bed into 

 the alleys, from two or three to four inches deep for bulbous roots, and for seeds, one or 

 two inches, according to what they are, and their size ; then, if for bulbous roots, draw lines 

 along the surface of the bed, nine inches' distance, and place the roots, bottom downward, 

 along the lines, six or eight inches apart, thrusting the bottom into the earth. Having 

 thus planted one bed, then with the spade, let the earth that was drawn off into the alley 

 be spread evenly upon the bed again, over the roots or seeds, being careful that they are 

 covered all equally of the above depth, and rake the surface smooth. This method is also 

 practised in nurseries, for sowing such seeds as require great accuracy in covering, as the 

 larch, pine, and fir tribes ; and, indeed, for most other tree-seeds. 



2092. Furrow planting. This is by drawing furrows with a plough, and depositing 

 sets or plants in the furrow, covering them in also with the plough. It is sometimes 

 practised for planting potatoe-sets in fields, and has been practised in planting young trees, 

 for large tracts of forest-tree plantations, where the cheapest and most expeditious method 

 was required ; but it can only be practised advantageously in light pliable ground. It 

 is thus performed : a furrow being drawn, one or two persons are employed in placing 

 the sets or plants in the furrow, whilst the plough following immediately with another 

 furrow, turns the earth thereof in upon the roots of the plants. 



2093. Dibble pla?iting. This is the most commodious method for planting most sorts 

 of fibrous-rooted seedling plants, slips, off-sets, and cuttings both of herbaceous and 

 shrubby kinds ; and likewise for some kinds of seeds and roots, such as broad beans, po- 

 tatoe-sets, Jerusalem artichokes, and horseradish-sets, bulbous roots, &c. It is expedi- 

 tiously performed with a dibble or setting-stick ; therewith making a narrow hole in the 

 earth for each plant or root, inserting one in each hole as you go on, &c. 



2094. Trowel planting. This is performed with a garden -trowel, which being made 

 hollow like a scoop, is useful in transplanting many sorts of young fibrous-rooted plants 

 with balls of earth about their roots, so as they may not be checked by their removal. 



2095. Planting with balls. By removing a plant with its roots firmly attached to a 

 surrounding ball of earth, it continues in a growing state, without receiving any, or but 

 very little check from its removal. This mode is often practised, more particularly with the 

 more delicate and choicer kinds of exotics, both trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants ; and 

 occasionally to many of the fibrous-rooted flowery plants, both annuals and perennials, 

 even in their advanced growth and flowering state, when particularly wanted to supply 

 any deficient compartments, or when intended to remove any sort of tree or plant out of 

 the proper planting season, as very late in spring, or in summer. The most difficult 

 tribe of plants to transplant, when in a growing state, are bulbous roots j which succeed 

 with difficulty, even when removed with balls attached. 



2096. Planting by mudding-in (einschlamen) is a German practice in planting fruit- 

 trees, particularly suitable to the dry sandy soils of that country, and sometimes adopted 

 in similar situations in this country. The pit being dug out, the mould in its bottom is 

 watered and stirred so as to form a mass of mud about half the depth of the pit ; the tree 

 is then inserted, and its roots worked up and down in the mud so as to spread them as 

 much as possible equally through it. More mud, previously prepared, is poured in till 

 the pit is full, which is then covered with dry earth, raised round the stem, but hollowed 

 in the middle, so as to form a basin round its stem, and finally covered with litter (mul- 

 ched), and, if a standard, it is fastened to a stake to protect it from winds. Diel, a 

 scientific German author already mentioned (224.), assures his readers, that trees planted 

 in this way in spring thrive better in cold situations than those planted in the ordinary 

 way in the preceding autumn ; and, that though it occasions considerable trouble, it should 

 never be neglected either in spring or autumn. He found it also particularly useful in 

 the case of planting fruit-trees in pots. ( Obst. Orangerie, &c. vol. ii. ) Pontey, alluding 

 to this mode, says " planting in a puddle occasions the soil speedily to firm, not only 

 too hard for the roots of the plant to spread, but also so far as perfectly to exclude water." 

 (Rural Improver, p. 89.) 



2097. Planting by fixing with water is an excellent variety of the last species. It has 

 been successfully practised by Pontey, and is thus described by him : The hole 

 being made, and the tree placed in it in the usual manner, the root is then slightly 

 covered with the finer part of the soil ; the tree being at the same time shaken, as is com- 

 mon, to settle the earth among its roots. Water is then applied by a common garden 

 watering-pot, by pouring it upon the soil with some force, in order to wash it close to 

 and among the roots of the plant. But this can only be done effectually by elevating the 

 pot as high in the hands as can be conveniently used, after first taking off the rose. It 

 will be obvious, that for such purposes a large pan with a wide spout is to be preferred. 

 The hole is then filled up with the remainder of the soil, and that again consolidated with 

 water as before, which usually finishes the business. The foot is never applied except in 



