280 



THE BEGINNER' 8 GARDEN BOOK 



Fig. 154. — Using 

 the dibber to press 

 the earth against the 

 roots. 



until it is at the right height. Then press the earth around 



the roots. 



Here shows one disadvantage of the dibber : roots set by- 

 it are sure to be crowded. Trowel-set 

 roots can at least be spread like a fan. 

 The larger the plants, the greater the ad- 

 vantage of the trowel. 



The proper depth is not hard to de- 

 termine. With such plants as young 

 asters, or lettuce, which have a crown 

 from which all the leaves spring, set this 

 crown just at the level of the ground. 

 But with plants whose leaves spring from 

 a stalk, such as zinnia or tomato, the 



plant may be set at almost any depth, even two or three 



inches deeper than before. Then the roots are deep, and 



are not likely to dry out. 



This kind of plant may also 



be set in a little hollow, 



made with the hand. This 



is of use on future days in 



watering ; it holds the water 



and leads it directly to the 



roots. But plants with a 



crown cannot be set in such 



hollows, which will fill up 



with earth and cover the 



crown bud. 



Since plants which have 



lost some of their roots will 



have a hard time supporting 



all of their leaves, it is wise to remove some of the leaf sur- 

 face. Some do this by clipping or tearing off the ends of all 



the leaves ; others tear off some of the leaves entirely. 



ri^ssiK? 



Fig. 155. — Unsheared Plants 

 Above, Sheared Plants Below. 

 See also the crowded roots of the 



dibber-set plants, to the left. Are the 



spread roots better ? 



