VINES 83 



Make sure that the hole prepared for the re- 

 ception of the plant is ample and that the roots 

 when they begin to reach out into the new soil 

 will not encounter obstacles in the form of 

 stones or unyielding clods to impede their 

 progress and stunt the plant by starvation. 

 It is usually best after planting to make the 

 soil firm and solid. Then see to it at once that 

 the plants have something upon which to lift 

 themselves until they fasten by the natural 

 means they employ to the permanent support 

 upon which they are to climb upward. When 

 vines require tying, the operation should be- 

 gin immediately, even though the stem to be 

 operated upon may be exceedingly short. It 

 may perhaps be of some service to suggest 

 that where vines are to be established in soil 

 already crowded with the roots of trees or 

 shrubs, a bottomless wooden cask or box may 

 be sunk and this in turn filled with a suitable 

 compost which will enable the climber to make 

 sufficient root growth to support itself until it 

 has gained strength and can hold its own with 

 the other roots. 



While it is important to give consideration 

 to the proper preparation of the soil where 

 the climber is to be planted, it must not be 



