238 Principles of Plant Culture. 



green trees in severe climates. Being always in leaf 

 they require more careful treatment than deciduous 

 trees. 



We shall consider transplanting under three divisions, 

 viz., a, lifting the plant; b, removing the plant; and c, 

 replanting the plant. 



A— LIFTING THE PLANT. 



402. The object to be obtained in this operation 

 should be to remove the roots from the soil with the 

 least possible damage consistent with reasonable econ- 

 omy of time and labor. Plants in low vigor should 

 receive especial care in this respect. Very young 

 plants, such as tobacco, cabbage, lettuce, etc., grown 

 thickly in the seed-bed, are often pulled from the soil 

 with the hands. In this case, the soil of the bed should 

 first be saturated with water, in order that the roots 

 may be broken as little as possible, and may come up 

 with more or less adhering soil. It is generally prefer- 

 able to grow such plants in drills rather than broad- 

 cast. This enables them to be drawn from the soil with 

 less damage to their roots. 



Trees and shrubs sufficiently grown for their final 

 planting out should be more carefully handled. If it is 

 necessary to cut off the main roots, the farther from 

 the trunk this is done, the better for the tree, and the 

 spade used should be kept as sharp as possible. The 

 roots should not he barked, mangled or split by the dig- 

 ing tools, as is so often done with nursery stock. Tree- 

 digging machines are now much used by the larger 

 nurserymen. 



