Planting 39 



roots of the last plant, pressing the earth firmly against 

 them. A man and boy can set 5000 plants in a day." 



The spade is pressed into the ground at a slight angle 

 in order that there may be no cavity beneath the roots. 

 Some growers fill the hole by thrusting the spade about 

 four inches from the plant and pressing towards it. 

 Others work backward, with the spade facing the setter. 

 Sometimes a narrow wooden spade is preferred. It is 

 made of hickory and has a wedge-shaped end four inches 

 wide and six inches long, the cutting edge being protected 

 with metal. 



Dibber setting. 



Florida growers use a large, round dibber called a punch. 

 It is made of wood and has a steel point. A flat dibber 

 is preferable, since it makes a broad opening somewhat 

 like that of the spade. It can be made by the local 

 blacksmith from a piece of heavy sheet iron or steel, 

 sixteen inches long, four inches wide and weighing about 

 two pounds. The upper end is rolled to fit the hand and 

 the cutting end beveled to a sharp V. 



The plants are dropped near the marks by a boy who 

 keeps not more than four plants ahead of setter. The 

 setter straddles the row on his knees, thrusts the dibber 

 into the ground four to six inches deep, pushes it forward 

 and inserts the plant with his left hand before withdraw- 

 ing the tool. Some firm the soil about the roots by thrust- 

 ing the dibber into the ground four or five inches deep on 

 the farther side of the plant and pulling it backward; 

 others place both hands around the crown and press it 

 downward; or it may be firmed with the feet. Ordi- 

 narily dibber planting is somewhat faster than spade 

 planting, but the hole is small, and careless workmen 



