268 THE BEGINNER'S GARDEN BOOK 



ing the stalk. The root may be fibrous, as with the Japan 

 iris, blackberry, and most shrubs; or it may be tuberous, 

 as with the German iris and peony ; but in any case no air 

 spaces should be left. The earth should be packed in snugly 

 around and among the roots ; it should then be watered, in 

 order to settle it well. Then mulch the place and mark it. 



Strawberries need a few directions to themselves. It is 

 important that the crown of this plant should be set just at 

 the surface of the ground. Therefore the plant should 

 neither be in a little hollow, into which soil can wash, nor 

 upon a little hummock, from which soil can wash away. 



And, finally, whatever seed is to be planted, or root is 

 to be set, thoroughness and care are very necessary. As 

 with the digging of the ground, the finished work looks 

 just the same at first, whether it be well or badly done. 

 But when the summer tests the work by the growing of the 

 plant, then the careless or hasty or skimpy gardener will 

 see, by the poor growth, that it would have paid him to do 

 the work well. 



Review Questions 



1. Why is it not always safe to plant in spring as soon as the 

 ground is dug ? 



2. Compared with planting "in flats, how deep do you plant out 

 of doors ? 



3. Why do we need to use a line in planting vegetables ? 



4. Explain how to plant in rows. In hills. Why label the 

 plantings ? 



5. Tell how to plant tubers. Bulbs. Perennial roots. 



6. Explain the setting of a strawberry plant. 



