PLANTING. 11 



of earth, placed in a covered, open shed, not exposed 

 to the sun. 



As soon as unpacked, they should be well watered 

 overhead with a coarse-rosed water-pot, which will 

 clean and freshen the foliage and moisten the balls. 

 In this position they may be left for weeks without 

 injury, moss being placed over the balls to prevent 

 undue evaporation, and occasional waterings being 

 given. It is, however, better to plant them within 

 a few days after unpacking, if the weather is settled 

 and favorable. 



Plants obtained from nurseries in this country 

 may be planted as soon as received. 



There is nothing more simple than planting Rho- 

 dodendrons. The plants have fine thread-like roots, 

 which seize hold of and retain the soil ; thus, unless 

 very carelessly packed, they always come with good 

 balls, and our only care is to place these balls in 

 congenial soil. 



A hole proportioned to the size of the ball should 

 be dug in the prepared bed, the plant set as deep as it 

 was before (or if a little deeper it will do no harm), 

 the earth filled in and firmly pressed around the ball. 



Waterings should not be given after planting : the 

 balls having been well moistened after unpacking, 

 the soil 0^ the bed will be wet enough to keep the 

 plants in good condition. Newly imported plants 

 should be set rather close, so that the leaves almost 

 touch, that during the first summer and winter they 

 may protect each other. 



All planting, however, must be done with an eye 

 to the ultimate appearance of the bed. Thus, a bed 



